June 26 (Reuters) - Jif peanut butter maker J.M. Smucker

said on Thursday it would remove synthetic food colors

from all consumer food products by the end of 2027.

The company said this move would impact its sugar-free fruit

spreads, ice cream toppings as well as some sweet baked goods

from its Hostess brand portfolio.

J.M. Smucker said majority of its products currently

available to K-12 schools do not contain any artificial colors,

and is working with distribution partners to stop selling

products with synthetic dyes to K-12 schools by the 2026-2027

school year.

Packaged food makers, including Conagra Brands ( CAG ) and

General Mills ( GIS ), have been committing to eliminate the use

of artificial colors from their product categories as they align

themselves with the plans of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy

Jr. to remove synthetic food dyes from the U.S. food supply.

Earlier this month, Kraft Heinz ( KHC ) also said it would

stop launching new products containing artificial colors in the

U.S. and plans to remove synthetic dyes from existing items by

the end of 2027.