
Doritos and Cheetos are getting a makeover.
PepsiCo said Thursday it’s launching toned-down versions of its bright orange snacks that won't have any artificial colors or flavors. Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will hit store shelves on Dec. 1.
It’s part of a broader shift underway at PepsiCo, which announced in April that it would accelerate a planned transition to using natural colors in its foods and beverages. Around 40% of its U.S. products now contain synthetic dyes, according to the company.
Dye-free doesn’t mean Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will be colorless. Instead, they’re just a lighter color, like a tortilla chip.
Many other big food companies, including Kraft Heinz and General Mills, have made similar pledges. They're feeling pressure from federal regulators and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who are urging companies to eliminate synthetic food dyes by next year.
States have also been taking action. Texas recently passed a law requiring warning labels for foods that contain artificial ingredients. Other states are moving to ban or restrict synthetic dyes.
PepsiCo has sold Simply brand Doritos and Cheetos without artificial dyes since 2002. But those products aren’t designed to taste like the original chips.
The Simply NKD versions are supposed to taste like the originals. But unlike the originals, they don’t contain petroleum-based dyes. They also have shorter ingredient lists.
For example, Simply NKD Doritos and Simply NKD Cheetos don’t contain the flavor-enhancing additives disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate, which are found in the original versions.
“We’re turning expectations upside down — removing artificial colors, not the flavor — and proving that unforgettable taste can be colorless,” said Rachel Ferdinando, the CEO of PepsiCo Foods U.S., in a statement.
PepsiCo said the Simply NKD line will include flavors like Cool Ranch Doritos and Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The chips will cost the same as original varieties.
The company said original Doritos and Cheetos will also remain on the market.
latest_posts
- 1
Figure out How to Adjust Your Handshake to Various Societies - 2
Understanding climate change in America: Skepticism, dogmatism and personal experience - 3
ISS astronaut snaps stunning nighttime photo of Florida and Cuba | Space photo of the day for Dec. 29, 2025 - 4
German gas price bill signed into law, but consumers not impressed - 5
Support Your Investment funds with These Individual accounting Thoughts
The 10 Most Progressive Logical Disclosures
Alleged maple syrup scam in Quebec uncovered by Canadian broadcaster
Top 5 Top of the line Books of the Year
When will the Epstein files be released — and will they reveal anything new?
Bomb blast in packed Nigerian mosque kills five
Pfizer in $41.5 million settlement with Texas over ADHD drug for children
Hamas demanded displaced Gazans pay rent on beach tents amid torrential downpour, IDF reveals
Earth's newfound 'episodic-squishy lid' may guide our search for habitable worlds
What's your biological age? Experts explain the benefits and risks of at-home tests












