Doritos, Cheetos dial back bright orange in new versions

Doritos and Cheetos are getting a makeover.

PepsiCo said Friday it’s launching toned-down versions of its bright orange snacks that won't have any artificial colours or flavours. Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will hit store shelves on December 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 colours in its foods and beverages. Around 40% of its US products now contain synthetic dyes, according to the company.

Dye-free doesn’t mean Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will be colourless. Instead, they’re just a lighter colour, 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 US 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 flavour-enhancing additives disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate, which are found in the original versions.

“We’re turning expectations upside down — removing artificial colours, not the flavour — and proving that unforgettable taste can be colourless,” said Rachel Ferdinando, the CEO of PepsiCo Foods US, in a statement.

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PepsiCo said the Simply NKD line will include flavours like Cool Ranch Doritos and Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The chips will cost the same as the original varieties.

The company said original Doritos and Cheetos will also remain on the market.