If you grew up in a Jell-O household, where those coveted pudding cups were guaranteed to be in your lunchbox, then you’re in for a surprise. Jell-O has been a staple in American households for nearly 130 years, and now, the iconic brand is branching out with a new line of products free of all artificial sweeteners and FD&C colors, aka synthetic, FDA-certified color additives approved for use in food, drugs, and cosmetics.
As Delish reports, the new line, Jell-O Simply, is made with real fruit juice and contains 25% less sugar than its ready-to-eat gelatin counterpart. Last year, parent company Kraft Heinz announced plans to do away with all petroleum-based food dyes from its products by the end of 2027—including name-brand favorites like Kool-Aid, Jet Puffed, and Crystal Light. Jell-O’s latest launch marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment.
The Jell-O Simply line will include Ready-to-Eat cups and Gelatin and Instant Pudding Mixes. The ready-to-eat lineup retails for $3.99 per four-pack in orange, raspberry lemonade, and blueberry flavors—the latter two of which are new. The gelatin and instant pudding mixes will roll out in August for $2.24 per box and come in four flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana, and Strawberry.
“JELL-O Simply delivers everything people love about JELL-O—the delicious taste, the iconic jiggle, and the vibrant fun—now made with no artificial sweeteners or FD&C colors,” said Kathryn O’Brien, head of marketing, desserts at Kraft Heinz.
Jell-O’s launch comes amid a slew of companies pledging to remove the six remaining certified color additives frequently used in the food supply by the end of 2027: FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2. Pepsi debuted Cheetos and Doritos without artificial dyes late last year, Sam’s Club eliminated certified synthetic colors/FD&C colors from Member’s Mark foods and beverages, and Tyson Foods eliminated certified color additives from Tyson, Jimmy Dean, and Hillshire Farm products.
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