In-N-Out Announces Changes After New FDA Guidelines

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would begin phasing out the use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food products by the end of next year. That has forced beloved burger chain In-N-Out to make some changes.

United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy helped spearhead an effort to remove the dyes from food products in the United States.

“For too long, some food producers have been feeding Americans petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent,” Kennedy said in a statement at the time. “These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children’s health and development.”

“We’re restoring gold-standard science, applying common sense, and beginning to earn back the public’s trust. And, we’re doing it by working with industry to get these toxic dyes out of the foods our families eat every day.”

As a result of that announcement, In-N-Out announced this week that it will be making some changes to its menu, including the removal of artificial coloring from its Strawberry Shakes and Signature Pink Lemonade as well as the transition to a ketchup that uses real sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup.

In-N-Out Owner and President Lynsi Snyder announced the changes in a statement to Newsweek.

"We are proud to say we've made the following changes,"

Replaced Yellow 5 with Turmeric in our pickles, chilies, and spreadReplaced Red 40 with beta carotene and vegetable juice in our Strawberry Shakes and Signature Pink LemonadeReplaced artificial vanilla with natural vanilla in our shake mixReplaced artificial flavors with natural flavors in our chocolate syrup and hot cocoaReplaced high-fructose corn syrup with natural sugar in our shake mix, strawberry syrup, spread, and Signature Pink LemonadeReplaced calcium propionate with natural enzymes in our buns and removed cottonseed oil

"We've additionally introduced a healthier beverage sweetener option by replacing sucralose and saccharin sweetener packets with Stevia Leaf Extract, and added a non-dairy alternative, oat milk creamer, Snyder said.

"We're also in the process of transitioning to ketchup made with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup and researching an even better-quality oil for our fries."

In-N-Out is not alone in these changes, as brands across the country will be forced to make changes to comply with the new guidelines.