
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
Which Exhibition hall Do You Suggest? Vote - 2
Car Investigation: A Survey of \Past the Outside\ Car - 3
Miss 'Stranger Things' already? Here's how you can get your Upside Down fix in 2026 with spinoffs, games and more - 4
Instructions to Discuss Successfully with Your Auto Collision Lawyer - 5
'Stranger Things' character guide: The nerds, the newcomers and the rest of the Season 5 cast
Winter virus season so far is not too bad, but doctors worry about suffering to come
Northern lights chances rise for Christmas as space weather remains unsettled
Israel faces tough choices over haredi draft exemptions, legal expert warns
Benihana is 60 years old. Gen Z is lining up.
Ukraine proved this drone-killer works. Now, the West is giving it a shot.
Find the Mysteries of Effective Objective Setting: Transforming Dreams into Feasible Targets
The Golden Globes is happening Sunday: Who's nominated, who's hosting and how to watch
2024's Hot Games: Must-Play Titles of the Year
Agios Pharma shares jump as US FDA expands approval for its blood disorder drug












