Walmart Joins the MAHA Movement: 1,000 Products to be Reformulated

So many companies are revising their food products in response to Robert F. Kennedy’s MAHA movement.  Walmart has announced they will be removing synthetic foods dyes as well as 30 other ingredients from the Great Value store brand by January 2027.  This would affect about 1,000 food products. 

🧪 Food Dyes Being Eliminated

Walmart plans to phase out the following synthetic dyes from Great Value and other private-label brands:

•         Blue No. 1 and No. 2
•          Green No. 3
•          Red No. 3, No. 4, and No. 40
•          Yellow No. 5 and No. 6
•          Citrus Red No. 2
•          Orange B (hasn’t been used for decades) 
•          Canthaxanthin

Why?  Because artificial food dyes have been linked to a variety of health concerns such as behavioral health issues in children and potential cancer risks.  Red Dye No. 3 has already been banned or scheduled for removal by the FDA. (See:  Are Artificial Food Dyes Hiding in the Foods You Eat?)   

 🧪 Other Chemicals Being Removed

Walmart is also eliminating a wide range of additives, including: (See:  Food Additives and Your Health )   

• Preservatives: Potassium nitrate, potassium nitrite, potassium bisulfite
• Artificial sweeteners: Advantame, neotame
• Fat substitutes: Simplesse (already phased out)
• Plasticizers: Phthalates (used in packaging, can leach into food)
• Other controversial additives:
• Titanium dioxide
• Azodicarbonamide
• Propylparaben
• Potassium bromate
• Synthetic trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils)

🛒 Products Affected

The reformulation will impact around 1,000 products, including:

• Salty snacks
• Baked goods
• Power drinks
• Salad dressings
• Frosting

Walmart says about 90% of its private-label foods are already free of synthetic dyes, and the remaining changes will roll out gradually, with full implementation by January 2027.  An example of changes will be revisions to its Great Value Fruit Spins Cereal which now contains the artificial food dyes, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 6, Yellow No. 5, and Blue No. 1.  Fruit Spins cereal will be colored using beta carotene, annatto, blue-green spirulina and some juice concentrates. 

Walmart joins many other companies including Kraft Heinz, Nestle and Conagra Brands that have also pledged to remove some dyes over the next few years. 

🛍️ Conclusion: A Cleaner and Healthier Future for Store Brands

Walmart’s commitment to removing synthetic dyes and dozens of controversial additives from its Great Value line marks a pivotal moment in the MAHA movement’s momentum. As one of the largest retailers in the world, Walmart’s reformulation pledge sends a clear message: consumer health and transparency are no longer optional—they’re expected.

With over 1,000 products undergoing changes, shoppers can look forward to cleaner ingredient labels, more natural colors, and fewer artificial compounds in everyday staples. This shift isn’t just about removing what’s harmful, it’s about aligning with a growing demand for food that nourishes without chemical additives. 

As more companies follow suit, the MAHA movement is proving to be more than a trend—it’s a transformation. And Walmart’s participation may be the tipping point that accelerates more industry reform.

Sources:  Walmart , dyes , decades, Red Dye No. 3, Are Artificial Food Dyes Hiding in the Foods You Eat? , additives, Food Additives and Your Health , Phthalates, additives, products, changes, companies  Image Sources:  Cereal, Ingredients