Natural values are rubbing off on these conventional companies—and it's a step in the right direction.
Natural values are rubbing off on these conventional companies—and it's a step in the right direction.
The verdict is in: Your purchasing habits have power. In the past few months, a slew of large, mainstream brands announced they are altering recipes and food formulations to cater to increasingly mindful shoppers. Worried about GMOs? Antibiotics in meat? Artificial colors? Brands are listening to your demands, and responding in kind.
Let me be clear—natural brands are miles better than the companies below given their conscious sourcing, authentic health-focused beginnings, and so much more. But these seemingly small changes are significant when you consider the size of the following brands. When Kraft replaces yellow dye with turmeric, it not only inspires other mainstream companies to do the same, but also lowers the price of non-synthetic food colors in the future. Good food has a better chance to thrive when it's cheaper than artificial options.
We're just brushing the surface of massive food improvements. But as Food Politics author Marion Nestle says, "These are big steps forward. They matter."
Here are the most notable recent changes.
Kraft Mac 'N Cheese Original
Kraft's signature Original mac 'n cheese dinner will soon be a slightly different shade of yellow. The company recently announced that starting in 2016, this product will replace artificial colors with natural spices like turmeric, annatto, and paprika.
Panera Bread
Panera Bread, the fast-casual lunch chain, announced it will eliminate a long list of "No No" ingredients from all
products, including benzoic acid, caramel color, carmine, maltodextrin, vanillin, and more by the end of 2016.
"We are not scientists. We are people who know and love food, and who believe that the journey to better food starts with simpler ingredients,” said founder and CEO Ron Shaich in a statement. “And to turn that belief into meaningful action, we consulted with third-party scientists and experts to compile a list of common artificial additives that we are going to do without.”
Chipotle Mexican Grill
The burrito brand recently announced it will remove GMO ingredients from it's tortillas and cooking oil. "Chipotle is on a never-ending journey to source the highest quality ingredients we can find," the company posted online. "Over the years, as we have learned more about GMOs, we’ve decided that using them in our food doesn’t align with that vision."
Despite this announcement, Chipotle has drawn criticism for continuing to serve soda, which is almost always made with GMO ingredients, and meat and dairy fed GMO grain.
Diet Pepsi
In a move to restore sluggish soda sales, Pepsi pledged to replace the no-calorie artificial sweetener aspartame with sucralose, a different artificial sweetener (otherwise known as Splenda). The switch will begin this August.
Some food industry leaders believe Pepsi's initiative will coax other soda brands like Coke to remove aspartame from products, too.
McDonald's 
Back in March, the Golden Arches said it will source chicken raised without antibiotics that are often used for humans, according to USA Today.
The announcement came about the same time McDonald's reported slipping sales.
Nestlé USA
Nestle USA announces they'll remove artificial flavors and colors from its 250+ products (including
Butterfingers, Babe Ruth, and Nestle Crunch candy bars) by the end of 2015.
"We know that candy consumers are interested in broader food trends around fewer artificial ingredients… our first step has been to remove artificial flavors and colors without affecting taste or increasing the price. We’re excited to be the first major U.S. candy manufacturer to make this commitment,” said Doreen Ida, president of Nestlé USA Confections & Snacks in a statement.
Tyson
Tyson said in 2015 that the company will phase out human antibiotic use for its broiler chickens. The titan poultry chain no longer uses antibiotics in its 35 chicken hatcheries.
Tyson hopes to raise antibiotic-free chickens by 2017, and is exploring options to reduce antibiotic use in turkeys, cattle, and hogs.
