Trump’s US Health and Human Services Czar recently announced a ban on Red Dye No. 3, a widely used commercial food colourant. At that time, RFK Jr. said he intends to ban all petroleum-based food dyes by 2027. But In-N-Out isn’t waiting to be told…
US Health and Human Services Czar JFK Jr. has pledged to ban all artificial
food colourings in foods sold in the US by the end of 2027…
Healthy eating and food safety advocates have long claimed Red Dye No. 3 causes cancer and con-tributes to a variety of other medical conditions and health issues…
The Classic drive-in says it’s embarking on a systematic program to eliminate all artificial food col-ours from its menu items by 2027. The proactive move may be designed to make best use of the time RFK is allowing the industry to comply with his planned new regulations.
Starting at the beginning
The first products I-N-O is going to clean up are its popular signature pink lemonade, strawberry syrup, and ketchup. All have traditionally used Red Dy N0. 3 but will henceforth be coloured with ‘natural alternatives sourced from vegetables, minerals, and even animals’.
The chain will apparently follow up by phasing out other artificial colours over time.
A ‘cleaner’ position
The move to more natural food colourings is just part of an overall program at I-N-O to ‘position In-N-Out as a leader in the industry’s shift towards more natural food offerings’.
Artificial flavourings are also widely used in fast food and packaged food products. In addition, sugar, salt and fat are targeted as Most-Unwanted processed food ingredients.
According to Food Beast, “In-N-Out is also replacing high fructose corn syrup in its ketchup with real sugar, introducing products like Simply Heinz. These changes reflect the company’s long-standing commitment to ingredient quality over cost, a philosophy championed by owner Lynsi Snyder.”
‘Simply Heinz’ line = simply healthier
‘Simply’ is described as, ‘a range of condiments from Heinz focusing on quality ingredients and sim-ple formulations’. The first of these is Simply Heinz Tomato Ketchup, which is free of high-fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners, while maintaining the signature Heinz taste. Kraft/Heinz pro-ducts are widely used in the restaurant industry as both bulk-dispenser refill condiments and single-serving ‘pouch’ and ‘tub’ packets.
Other Simply products coming on the market now include Sweet Relish Yellow Mustard, and Mayon-naise. All are designed to meet consumer demand for greater ‘transparency in ingredients’.
My take
Other fast food and processed food purveyors would do well to take advantage of whatever time JFK and his team are allowing them to phase out artificial colourants.
Meanwhile… Congrats to Snyder and Co. for daring to take a lead and set a positive example for the competition!
~ Maggie J.