MINNEAPOLIS — General Mills has committed to removing artificial flavors and colors from artificial sources from all of its fruit-flavored snacks, including Fruit Roll-Ups, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers, and such shapes products as Scooby-Doo!
Already, more than 20% of the company’s fruit snacks, including Mott’s and Fiber One products, contain no artificial flavors or colors from artificial sources, General Mills said. The company plans to revamp the rest of its lineup by the end of 2017, with several reformulated products set to appear on shelves as early as January.
General Mills said it found in a survey that more than 50% of consumers who eat fruit-flavored snacks said they were more likely to buy them if artificial flavors and colors were removed. The company said it will use flavors and colors from fruits and vegetables juices and other natural sources.
Jacquie Klein, senior marketing manager of fruit flavored snacks. |
“We believe in the products that we have today and see this as an opportunity to make them even better,” said Jacquie Klein, senior marketing manager of fruit flavored snacks. “This is all about continuing to deliver what families want and meet the changing needs of consumers over time.”
Earlier this year, General Mills pledged to remove all flavors and colors perceived as artificial from its cereal line during the next two to three years. The company said it had been researching the effort for several months and that it will affect approximately 40% of its cereals.
“All of the changes will continue to allow us to deliver the products that families love today,” Ms. Klein said. “We’re going to make changes that delight them and will taste great.”