Doritos and Cheetos Go ‘NKD’: Snack Giants Launch Dye-Free Versions, Signaling End to Signature Orange Color
By Charlotte Maracina
NATIONAL — Two of America’s most popular snack brands, Cheetos and Doritos, are making a major recipe change that will soon result in bright orange fingertips becoming a thing of the past for some consumers.
PepsiCo, the parent company, announced the launch of “Simply NKD” versions of the snacks, which contain no artificial flavors or dyes. This change directly addresses a growing push against synthetic food dyes in the country’s food supply, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Starting in December, grocery stores will begin stocking the new dye-free options. This means certain packages of Cheetos and Doritos will lose their signature bright orange appearance, a color traditionally achieved using artificial additives.
The move, however, is being presented as an expansion of choice, not a replacement. Rachel Ferdinando, CEO of PepsiCo Foods U.S., confirmed the strategy, stating, “NKD is an additive option, not a replacement, introduced to meet consumer demand.”
For fans dedicated to the original flavor profile and color, PepsiCo confirmed that the original versions of the snacks will remain widely available.
The company assured consumers that the taste will not be compromised despite the visual change. “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,” said Hernán Tantardini, CMO of PepsiCo Foods U.S.
The Ingredients Being Targeted
The new “Simply NKD” collection will debut on December 1 with four initial flavors:
- Doritos Simply NKD Nacho Cheese
- Doritos Simply NKD Cool Ranch
- Cheetos Simply NKD Puffs
- Cheetos Simply NKD Flamin’ Hot
The reformulated snacks remove several synthetic dyes that Secretary Kennedy Jr. has advocated to ban. The original Nacho Cheese Doritos contain Yellow 6, Yellow 5, and Red 40, while the classic Cool Ranch flavor includes Blue 1, Red 40, and Yellow 5. These artificial colorings will be absent from the new NKD product line.
By offering a parallel, dye-free product, PepsiCo aims to meet shifting consumer preferences while maintaining its classic, legacy offerings.
