Plain vs. Colorful: Dyes in Hershey's Product Lines
For most people, a classic Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar or a Hershey's Special Dark bar is what comes to mind. These standard chocolate products do not contain added synthetic food dyes. Their rich brown color comes naturally from the cocoa powder and other core ingredients, like cocoa butter and milk fat. The cocoa beans go through a roasting process that intensifies the chocolate's natural brown hue, making artificial coloring unnecessary.
The confusion arises when considering The Hershey Company's broader product portfolio, which includes many popular candy and snack brands. Products like Reese's Pieces, Jolly Ranchers, and Twizzlers are known for their vibrant, consistent colors. It's these products, not the plain chocolate bars, that traditionally rely on synthetic dyes.
Hershey's Move Toward Natural Colors
Driven by evolving consumer preferences for cleaner ingredients and changing state regulations, The Hershey Company announced a significant change to its product formulation. By the end of 2027, the company is phasing out certified Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) synthetic dyes from its entire candy and snack lineup sold in the United States. This includes products with colorful coatings or fillings, like Reese's Pieces. The company is shifting towards natural alternatives derived from sources such as:
- Spirulina
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Beets
- Annatto extract
- Turmeric extract
This transition aligns with a broader industry trend influenced by increasing consumer awareness and regulatory pressures, as highlighted by federal and state actions in 2025 regarding food additives.
The Health and Nutritional Context of Food Dyes
The health concerns surrounding synthetic food dyes are a key reason for the industry's shift. While regulatory bodies like the FDA historically deemed these dyes safe within specified limits, ongoing research and heightened consumer scrutiny have brought potential health risks to light. These concerns include:
- Hyperactivity in Children: Some studies, including a 2007 report from the UK's Food Standards Agency, have suggested a link between the consumption of certain food dyes and increased hyperactive behavior in children.
- Ultra-Processed Foods: The presence of artificial dyes is a marker for ultra-processed foods, which are often high in sugar, sodium, and fat and have lower nutritional value. Limiting intake of these foods is generally recommended for overall health.
- Other Potential Risks: Though research is ongoing and inconclusive, other potential health concerns associated with some synthetic dyes include allergic reactions, behavioral changes, and in some animal studies, cancer risk.
Reading Labels: How to Spot the Dyes
Consumers can easily identify synthetic food dyes by checking the ingredient list on food packaging. Look for the classic FD&C tags followed by a color and number, such as:
- Red 40 (Allura Red): Found in many red and orange candies.
- Yellow 5 (Tartrazine): Gives foods a lemon-yellow color.
- Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow): Often used for orange coloring.
- Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue): A common blue dye.
By contrast, products using natural colorings will list their source, such as "colored with beet powder" or "annatto for coloring". A simple rule of thumb is that if an item's ingredient list contains a number after a color, it's a synthetic dye.
Comparison of Hershey's Products: With and Without Dyes
To illustrate the difference, here is a comparison of ingredients between a plain Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar and a colorful Hershey's product containing artificial dyes, based on standard ingredient lists.
| Feature | Plain Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar | Hershey's Jolly Rancher Chews |
|---|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Sugar, milk, chocolate, cocoa butter, milk fat, soy lecithin, natural flavor. | Sugar, corn syrup, palm oil, malic acid, gelatin, natural & artificial flavor, artificial color. |
| Synthetic Dyes? | No. Color comes naturally from cocoa. | Yes. Contains Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Yellow 6. |
| Processing Level | Considered moderately processed, focused on creating chocolate mass. | Considered highly processed, with multiple additives. |
| Primary Color Source | Cocoa solids, naturally brown. | Artificial chemical compounds for vibrant, stable colors. |
| Dietary Context | Primarily a source of sugar, fat, and calories. Dark chocolate has some antioxidants. | Offers minimal nutritional value, primarily sugar. |
Making Healthier Choices
For those concerned about synthetic food dyes and processed ingredients, here are some actionable tips for incorporating chocolate into a healthy diet:
- Opt for Dark Chocolate: Choose dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (70% or higher). This provides more health benefits from antioxidants and flavonoids with less added sugar.
- Read Ingredient Labels Carefully: Always check the back of the package. The ingredient list will explicitly name any FD&C dyes or other artificial colorings. Look for products with simple, recognizable ingredients.
- Consider Natural Alternatives: Explore chocolate brands that exclusively use natural colorants, such as beet juice or spirulina, for any colored coatings.
- Buy Organic: Certified organic foods are prohibited by USDA standards from using artificial dyes. This is a simple way to avoid synthetic colorants.
- Focus on Whole Foods: Limit your intake of ultra-processed items, whether they contain artificial or natural dyes, and build your diet around whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
Conclusion
While plain Hershey's chocolate bars do not contain synthetic dyes, many of the company's other candies have historically used them to achieve their iconic bright colors. In response to consumer demand and evolving regulations, Hershey has committed to phasing out these artificial colorants by 2027. This move, coupled with a growing push for transparency and cleaner ingredients across the food industry, empowers consumers to make more informed choices about their snacks. By understanding the difference between product lines and learning to read labels, it is possible to enjoy chocolate in a way that aligns with a more health-conscious and less-processed diet.
Hershey's has published blog posts regarding its transition to natural food colors.
