Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Monday that his office has reached a legal agreement with WK Kellogg Co. requiring the company to remove petroleum-based artificial dyes from its cereals by the end of 2027.
The Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC), signed by both parties, is believed — according to Paxton’s office — to be the first legally binding commitment by a major U.S. food manufacturer to eliminate synthetic colorings. Other food companies have made verbal pledges to remove dyes, but Kellogg’s is the first to sign an enforceable agreement.
“Following months of investigating and negotiating, I am proud to officially say Kellogg’s will stop putting these unhealthy ingredients in its cereals,” Paxton said in a press release.
“The signed AVC demonstrates that Kellogg’s is committed to keeping this pledge, and I commend the company for doing the right thing.”
Paxton’s office launched an investigation after the company previously announced plans to remove petroleum-based food colorings in the United States, but continued using dyes such as blue, red, and yellow in certain products. Kellogg’s has already removed these ingredients in Canada and Europe.
Kellogg’s has said more than 85% of its U.S. cereal sales no longer contain artificial colors and that it is continuing to develop naturally colored alternatives. The company noted that consumer preferences vary by market, with natural-color versions performing better in Canada than in the United States.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Paxton issued a Civil Investigative Demand to Kellogg’s in February 2025 and publicly announced the probe in April.
The agreement requires Kellogg’s to fully remove the dyes from all cereal products sold in the United States by December 31, 2027.
Paxton encouraged other manufacturers to “sign similar agreements to demonstrate their commitment to helping Americans live healthier lives.”