Dive Brief:
- Aldi announced Wednesday that it intends to remove 44 ingredients from its private label assortment by December 2027.
- The ingredients slated for removal include select artificial preservatives, colors, flavors and sweeteners.
- The discounter said the decision expands its list of banned ingredients from 13 to 57 and caters to consumers’ desire for products with simpler ingredients.
Dive Insight:
The upcoming removal of the nearly four dozen ingredients comes more than a decade after Aldi removed certified synthetic colors from its private brands in 2015. At that time, Aldi was one of the first national grocers to remove certified synthetic colors, the discounter noted in its Wednesday announcement.
Aldi’s decision to build upon its ingredient ban for its store brands comes as synthetic food and beverage ingredients come under increasing federal scrutiny. The government’s moves include reassessing the safety of food preservatives and loosening labeling requirements for artificial colors.
The 44 additional banned ingredients include titanium dioxide, bromated flour and artificial sweetener and flavor enhancer neotame. Aldi noted that all of its private label items “must meet the company’s rigorous sourcing, testing and ingredient standards.”
Aldi noted that formalizing its list of banned ingredients will help ensure consistent standards across its grocery categories and give suppliers clear expectations.
The discounter said that it will roll out reformulated products in phases between now and December 2027.
Other retailers have addressed their private label ingredients lists recently. Last fall, Walmart said it would remove dozens of artificial ingredients from its private label brands by January 2027, in a move that it claims is “one of the largest private brand reformulations in retail history.” At the start of 2026, Save A Lot said it plans to remove seven artificial dyes from its private label assortment by the end of 2027.
