Brenham-based Blue Bell Creameries announced today it will remove all certified artificial colors - including Red 3, Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5 and others - from its ice cream lineup by the end of 2027.
The move aligns with an industry-wide initiative led by the International Dairy Foods Association to phase out synthetic dyes amid a patchwork of state and federal regulations - and growing consumer preference for cleaner labels.
Blue Bell said many of its popular flavors - like Banana Nut, Bride’s Cake, Milk Chocolate and Southern Blackberry Cobbler - already contain no artificial colors, giving the company a jump on the pledge.
“Blue Bell is proud to be a part of the IDFA commitment,” the company posted on X (formerly Twitter).
While the change won’t affect non-dairy items or small-batch offerings, it’s designed to keep the brand in step with evolving consumer demands and the wave of new state laws - like Texas’s requirement for warning labels on 44 additives, passed in June.
Starting with this announcement, Blue Bell is helping customers navigate the transition by publicly sharing a current list of flavors free from artificial colors.
Through this strategy, the creamery hopes to maintain consumer trust and ensure its iconic ice cream remains available and compliant nationwide - even as regulations shift.