
Some Cheetos and Doritos will look a little different soon.
Starting in December, stores will sell Simply NKD versions of the popular snacks that have no artificial flavors or dyes — meaning no bright orange color, PepsiCo announced Thursday.
The move comes following a push by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to get rid of synthetic food dyes in the nation's food supply. The Food and Drug Administration asked the industry to stop using dyes in April, but stopped short of banning them.
For Cheetos and Doritos, the original versions will still be available in addition to the new options.
"NKD is an additive option, not a replacement, introduced to meet consumer demand," CEO of PepsiCo Foods U.S. Rachel Ferdinando said in a statement.
The company also promises the flavor will be the same.
"We are reinventing our iconic — and most famous — brands to deliver options with the bold flavors fans know and love, now reimagined without any colors or artificial flavors," Hernán Tantardini, CMO of PepsiCo Foods U.S., said.
The NKD collection will launch with four flavors: Doritos Simply NKD Nacho Cheese, Doritos Simply NKD Cool Ranch, Cheetos Simply NKD Puffs and Cheetos Simply NKD Flamin' Hot. They will be available in stores starting Dec. 1, PepsiCo said.
The original nacho cheese-flavored Doritos contain the artificial colors Yellow 6, Yellow 5 and Red 40. The Cool Ranch option has Blue 1, Red 40 and Yellow 5. Other varieties contain other artificial dyes, according to the Doritos website.
Original Cheetos and Puffs contain Yellow 6. Flamin' Hot Cheetos also contain Yellow 6, Yellow 5 and Red 40.
Other companies, including Kraft Heinz, have pledged to remove artificial dyes from their U.S. products. And some states, such as West Virginia, have banned them.
The push to remove dyes stems from concerns they inflate the consumption of unhealthy foods and raise the risk of possible behavioral changes in some children, such as hyperactivity, sleeplessness and inattention.
The food dye industry has denied any safety concerns with artificial dyes.
And some doctors say food dyes are not the biggest threat to our health.
"The health risks really pale in comparison with the health risks of the added salt, sugar and fat in processed food," Dr. Céline Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, said in July.
Eye Opener: California wildfire forces evacuations as storm threatens mudslides
Real concerns among Republicans on White House's response to Epstein files call, sources say
California wildfire explodes as storm threatens mudslides in southern part of state
LATEST POSTS
- 1
NASA astronauts to return from space early due to an 'unexpected medical issue.' What happened — and when are they coming home? - 2
Select Your Definitive Pizza Decision - 3
Geminid meteors streak under green sky | Space photo of the day for Dec. 19, 2025 - 4
Germany records first wolf bite on human since repopulation - 5
The Most Compelling Innovation Developments Somewhat recently
Overhaul Your Rest: Tips for a Serene Evening
Sound and Delightful: 12 Nutritious Smoothie Recipes
How will the universe end?
One third of Spanish pork export certificates blocked since swine fever outbreak, minister says
FBI arrests Brian Cole Jr. in Jan. 6 pipe bomb investigation, ending 5-year hunt
Brazil's Bolsonaro to continue his sentence at home because of poor health
Sahel coups push Africa to top of global democratic declines, report finds
IDF kills four terrorists equipped with weapons, surveillance gear near Gaza's Yellow Line
Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink satellites before making 550th SpaceX landing (video)












