Kraft To Remove Artificial Flavors, Colors From US Mac & Cheese In 2016

Kraft Foods Group Inc. said Monday it will stop using artificial preservatives or coloring in its Kraft Macaroni & Cheese sold in the U.S. from 2016. The food giant said it will replace the synthetic colors with those that come from natural sources, including paprika, annatto, which is an extract of the achiote tree found in South America, and turmeric. The company will remove synthetic colors from its Kraft Dinner products sold in Canada by the end of the year. The move is the latest effort by a food company to offer products with natural ingredients as consumers continue to demand healthier choices. In February, Nestle USA said it would remove artificial flavors and coloring from all candy products by year end. The Hershey Co. said it would move to simpler ingredients, such as fresh milk from local farms, and Mars said it is mulling using natural colors for M&Ms. Kraft shares were up 0.9% in morning trade, and are up 40% in the year so far, while the S&P 500 has gained about 1.8%.