Johann Hunt
Snack history just got a strange new chapter: some Cheetos and Doritos are about to lose that traffic cone glow you know from orange fingers and dusty couch cushions. PepsiCo is rolling out versions without synthetic dyes, part of a bigger national push to tone down artificial colors in processed food. Before you grab your next bag, take a minute to see what is really changing and how it might reshape your snack shelf. Your taste buds may feel familiar, but your eyes are in for a surprise.
What Is Actually Changing In Your Snack Bag
PepsiCo is introducing a Simply NKD line that keeps the crunch and flavor profile of classic Doritos and Cheetos while dropping artificial colors and flavors. The company says fans still get the same bold taste, just without the neon dust that usually clings to fingers.
Starting in December, stores will carry Simply NKD versions of Doritos and Cheetos that skip artificial flavors and dyes. PepsiCo says the NKD line launches with four flavors and hits shelves on December 1 as an added option, not a replacement for existing bags.
Here is what the first wave includes:
- Doritos Simply NKD Nacho Cheese
- Doritos Simply NKD Cool Ranch
- Cheetos Simply NKD Puffs
- Cheetos Simply NKD Flamin’ Hot
You are likely to see both versions parked on the same shelf for a while. Bright orange originals stay in the lineup, while the NKD bags give shoppers an option with fewer dyes. Snack fans who care about labels get a new choice, and loyalists still keep their classic look and crunch.
What Those Neon Colors Are Made Of
Those bright shades never came from cheese alone. The classic formulas lean on familiar label codes like Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 40, and Blue 1 to create a color that looks straight out of a cartoon.
Original nacho cheese Doritos list Yellow 6, Yellow 5, and Red 40 among their ingredients, while Cool Ranch chips use Blue 1, Red 40, and Yellow 5 for color. Classic Cheetos and Puffs rely on Yellow 6, and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos add Yellow 5 and Red 40 to that mix.
Why Regulators Care About Snack Colors
Behind the makeover sits a bigger national experiment. Health officials led by the FDA and Health and Human Services chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are encouraging companies to phase out synthetic dyes made from petroleum by the middle of this decade, citing concerns about children’s behavior and pressure from parents and advocacy groups. The FDA asked manufacturers in April to stop using them. Some states, including West Virginia, already restrict these dyes, while major brands such as Kraft Heinz have pledged to remove them from U.S. products.
So your next snack aisle run may give you a small color shock, but the basic choice stays the same. You can reach for the familiar glow or try the paler NKD versions. Either way, paying attention to those tiny dye codes turns a quick bite into a surprisingly informed decision.