ROSEMONT, ILL. — Under its new Unpronounceables List initiative, US Foods Holding Corp. said it will avoid, remove or replace more than 80 ingredients in more than 1,000 of its exclusive brand products. The food service distributor’s entire line of Metro Deli, Rykoff Sexton, Chef's Line and Stock Yards products are now free of ingredients such as artificial flavors and colors, high-fructose corn syrup, disodium guanylate, sodium benzoate and monosodium glutamate, according to US Foods.

“Forty-six per cent of millennials would be more likely to buy a product with no artificial ingredients, and we see this demand for simple, ‘back to the basics’ ingredients extending into the choices consumers make when dining out,” said Stacie Sopinka, senior vice-president of innovation and quality at US Foods. “As diners increasingly make less-is-more food choices, we will continue to streamline and simplify our products by removing or replacing certain ingredients with preferred alternatives so what’s left is simply good food.”

As an example, the company's bloody mary mix is made with simple ingredients, including tomato juice from concentrate, lemon and lime juices, hot sauce, vinegar, molasses and horseradish. Similar products may include hydrolyzed soy and corn protein, monosodium glutamate and disodium inosinate, the company said.

US Foods said it will continue to update its Unpronounceables List, which builds on its strategy of helping independent restaurant operators meet changing consumer preferences.