Wednesday, 10 June 2026

Latest from Food Politics: A MAHA Win? Trix without petroleum dyes

My forthcoming (September 8) book with Lisa Sutherland, Sugar Coated: Unboxing the Hidden Forces Shaping America’s Favorite Breakfast Food, discusses Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) efforts to remove potentially harmful artificial colors from the ...
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By Marion Nestle

A MAHA Win? Trix without petroleum dyes

My forthcoming (September 8) book with Lisa Sutherland, Sugar Coated: Unboxing the Hidden Forces Shaping America’s Favorite Breakfast Food, discusses Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) efforts to remove potentially harmful artificial colors from the food supply.

I just bought the first cereal that dropped those colors and replaced them with vegetable dyes.

The company did this quietly.  I had to look hard to find the green label in the upper right corner saying “colors from natural sources.”  Compare the colors of the cereal (pretty close to what it actually looks like) to the original Trix colors, still on the market.

As for the cereals, both:

  • Are ultra-processed
  • Have artificial flavors and other chemical additives
  • Contain 12 grams of sugars per serving
  • Contain only 1 gram of fiber

Trix without artificial colors

Whole Grain Corn, Sugar, Corn Meal, Corn Syrup, Maltodextrin, Rice Flour, Canola And/Or Sunflower Oil, Salt, Color (Vegetable And Fruit Juice, Annatto Extract, Turmeric Extract And Other Color Added), Natural And Artificial Flavor, Trisodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Rosemary Extract. Vitamins And Minerals

Trix original, with artificial colors

Whole Grain Corn, Sugar, Rice Flour, Corn Syrup, Canola and/or Sunflower Oil, Salt, Trisodium Phosphate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 1 and Other Color Added, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Rosemary Extract. Vitamins and Minerals

Comment

Removing the artificial dyes is a good idea, but does not convert Trix to a health food.  Alas.

The post A MAHA Win? Trix without petroleum dyes appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle

Now Available: What to Eat Now

My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out!

It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously.

For more information and to order, click here.

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Marion Nestle

Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita


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Latest from Food Politics: A MAHA Win? Trix without petroleum dyes

My forthcoming (September 8) book with Lisa Sutherland, Sugar Coated: Unboxing the Hidden Forces Shaping America’s Favorite Breakfast Food...