
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
I spent the last year transforming my life. Becoming a Rockette for a day made me confront a fear I couldn't shake. - 2
Revvity says it will exceed 2025 profit forecast range - 3
The 10 Most Compelling Forerunners in Innovation - 4
Flu activity in US could continue to rise for weeks, top CDC epidemiologist says - 5
Flu illness count nears 5 million, with New York City among the hardest hit
A top Marine shares his secrets to keeping fit at 50
The Best Computer games for Multiplayer Fun
Sentimental tree to shine at Arctic League annual broadcast
How does Spotify Wrapped calculate your listening age? What your number says about you.
Figure out how to Consolidate All encompassing Practices with a Degree in Brain research
Crew-11 astronauts undock in 1st-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station (video)
Uncover the Manageable Fish Practices: Sea agreeable Feasting
The Main 15 Applications for Efficiency and Association
'We were genuinely astonished': This moss survived 9 months outside the International Space Station and could still grow on Earth












