Free of artificial colors, Cheetos and Doritos go ‘Simply NKD’ with new products

PepsiCo announced on Thursday that starting in December, several of our beloved chips will debut a fresh appearance. Soon you’ll have the choice to stick with the originals or try the new, healthier “Simply NKD” Cheetos and Doritos, which are made without artificial flavors or dyes. Will chip lovers be able to get past the new look?

The change comes after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushed to remove synthetic food dyes from the nation’s food supply. In April, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked companies to stop using these dyes, but didn’t officially ban them.

The original nacho cheese-flavored Doritos contain the artificial colors Yellow 6, Yellow 5 and Red 40. The Cool Ranch option has Blue 1, Red 40 and Yellow 5. The Original Cheetos and Puffs contain Yellow 6. Flamin' Hot Cheetos also contain Yellow 6, Yellow 5 and Red 40. Other varieties contain other artificial dyes, according to the Doritos website. 

For the chip consumers who are used to the nostalgic look, thankfully for Cheetos and Doritos, the original versions will still be available in addition to the new options. “NKD is an additive option, not a replacement, introduced to meet consumer demand,” CEO of PepsiCo Foods U.S. Rachel Ferdinando said in a statement.

Which products are getting naked? The debut Simply NKD™ collection includes:

Doritos Simply NKD Nacho Cheese

Doritos Simply NKD Cool Ranch

Cheetos Simply NKD Puffs

Cheetos Simply NKD Flamin’ Hot®

“We are reinventing our iconic — and most famous — brands to deliver options with the bold flavors fans know and love, now reimagined without any colors or artificial flavors,” Hernán Tantardini, CMO of PepsiCo Foods U.S., said.

All of the new versions will be available in stores starting Dec. 1.