Big Take Welch’s Fruit Snacks Get a MAHA-Friendly Makeover
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Aug 21, 2025 Will Kubzansky, a Bloomberg reporter, shares his insights after touring a Welch’s Fruit Snacks factory in New Jersey. He discusses the company’s decade-long journey to replace artificial dyes with natural sources amidst a push for healthier food standards. The conversation dives into the complexities of maintaining taste and appearance while reformulating products, and the broader implications for the food industry as it adapts to changing consumer preferences and regulatory demands.
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Factory Tour And Blind Taste Test
- Julia and Will toured a Welch's Fruit Snacks plant and sampled old and new gummies side-by-side.
- The hosts could not tell the difference after a blind taste test, showing the reformulation matched the original well.
Politics Driving Dye Reformulation
- RFK Jr.'s Maha campaign pushed synthetic dyes into the spotlight and companies to act.
- The FDA still authorizes dyes, but political and regional actions are prompting corporate change.
Mixed Science Behind Dye Risks
- Scientific evidence linking synthetic dyes to behavior is mixed and contested across jurisdictions.
- The EU added warnings, California later found links, and the FDA has not revoked dye approvals.