Campbell’s Removed Synthetic Dyes From Lance Crackers

The company completed its transition to natural colorants across its snack product line in August 2026.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Consumer Goods

Bold vector editorial illustration of turmeric roots, dried beet, and paprika powder, representing the shift to natural food colorants. — Campbell's completed its transition to natural colorants in all Lance crackers by August 2026, replacing synthetic dyes with turmeric and beet extracts. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should food manufacturers be required to remove all synthetic dyes from their products?

Campbell's finished a companywide initiative to eliminate synthetic dyes from its products, including the Lance cracker line manufactured in Charlotte. The company successfully replaced artificial additives with natural extracts like annatto and turmeric.

Why it matters

The shift reflects evolving consumer preferences and follows guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services. These agencies are encouraging manufacturers to remove six specific synthetic dyes by the end of 2027.

Campbell's, which acquired Snyder's-Lance Inc. for $6.1 billion in 2018, now produces 17 varieties of natural-colored Lance sandwich crackers in Charlotte. The effort utilized 9 months of R&D testing prior to final production.

The players

Campbell's Co.

This multinational food processing company is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, and is known for producing a wide range of soups, snacks, and meals.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

This federal agency is responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety and efficacy of food, drugs, and consumer products.

The details

R&D teams conducted trials with ingredients like purple beet juice and paprika to replace Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, while workers at the 1,400-employee Charlotte facility implemented the changes without requiring capital investment. Prices for the products will remain unchanged following the reformulation.

September 2025 marked the start of R&D testing for natural colorant alternatives.
August 2026 saw the completion of the transition for the final brand lines.
December 2027 is the federal target date for the removal of six synthetic dyes.

Market Landscape

This transition aligns with federal health directives and follows the precedent set by the company's Pepperidge Farm Goldfish brand, which moved to plant-derived colors over 15 years ago. The move positions Campbell's to meet the FDA’s target for removal of six synthetic dyes by the end of 2027 ahead of industry competitors.

Local shoppers will see no change in retail pricing for Lance products despite the transition to natural ingredients. The availability of the reformulated snack crackers remains consistent across all established retail outlets in the Charlotte area.

The takeaway

Consumers are increasingly driving shifts toward natural ingredients in mass-produced food items. Readers can verify ingredient updates by checking updated packaging labels for natural colorant sources like annatto and turmeric.