[co-author: Stephanie Kozol]*
Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton announced that General Mills has agreed to remove petroleum-based artificial dyes from its cereals and school food products throughout the U.S. by summer 2026, and from its entire U.S. product line by the end of 2027. The decision follows an investigation launched by Paxton’s office into General Mills, and his office has announced that they are investigating other food companies for similar alleged misconduct.
The Broader Picture
As part of the investigation, the AG’s office issued a civil investigative demand to General Mills seeking information about whether the company misled consumers by marketing certain cereals as “healthy” despite the use of synthetic dyes. These additives, including Red 40 and Yellow 5, have been the subject of growing scrutiny. Paxton’s office pointed to research that raises concerns about potential health risks associated with synthetic food dyes, particularly in products marketed to children.
Under this new agreement, the company will eliminate synthetic dyes from all cereals and K–12 school foods by mid-2026. The rest of its U.S. products will follow by the end of 2027. General Mills says that roughly 85% of its U.S. offerings are already dye-free, and the remaining products, mainly cereals and snacks, will be reformulated.
Several states are also moving to restrict these additives. West Virginia has banned a range of artificial dyes in school meals, with a broader ban on retail food products taking effect in 2028, while California has passed similar legislation targeting school food, with restrictions set to kick in by the end of 2027.
Why It Matters
This case signifies how state enforcement can drive national product reform, even in the absence of formal federal regulation. AGs are increasingly stepping into roles once dominated by federal agencies, using consumer protection laws to shape corporate behavior in real time. As more state AGs take similar action, companies that operate nationally will need to treat state enforcement risk as a central compliance concern, especially in sectors tied to public health, consumer labeling, and advertising.
*Senior Government Relations Manager
