General Mills To Remove Artificial Ingredients In Cereal

General Mills has announced that it plans to remove artificial flavors and colors from its cereals by 2017 in the United States and Canada.

According to Scripps Media.com, president of General Mills, Jim Murphy, made the decision to remove the ingredients because consumers want to see more familiar and recognizable ingredients on the labels.

Trix and Reese's Puffs are first cereals on the list to be changed. However, Trix will contain more natural ingredients and it will have four colors instead of six. Also, Trix and Reese’s Puffs will now be made with fruit and vegetable juices and natural vanilla.

The hardest part about the switch from artificial to natural ingredients is that General Mills has to keep a consistent flavor and texture for each brand.

General Mills also stated any brand with marshmallows will be recreated. By the end of 2016, General Mills plans to have more than 90% of the cereal artificial free.

Artificial ingredients are currently absent from 60% of General Mills cereals.

The change in flavors will not impact the cereal prices.

With additional reporting by Sal Lopez