Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has scored a major victory for American families, announcing this week that Kellogg Co., the maker of Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes, and Rice Krispies, will permanently remove toxic artificial food dyes from its cereals. The historic move comes after months of investigation and negotiations, culminating in a legally binding Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) signed by the company.
Unlike previous verbal promises from other food manufacturers, Kellogg’s agreement is enforceable, with a deadline set for the complete removal of artificial dyes by the end of 2027. “Following months of investigating and negotiating, I’m proud to officially say Kellogg’s will stop putting these unhealthy ingredients in its cereals,” Paxton said in a statement. “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 encouraged other food companies to follow suit, highlighting that American parents deserve transparency about the products they feed their children. The Attorney General framed this agreement as part of a broader fight to hold corporations accountable for misleading claims about “healthy” foods that are anything but.
The investigation began in February when Paxton’s office issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to Kellogg’s, escalating to a formal inquiry in April after reports surfaced that the company had removed petroleum-based food colorings in Canada and Europe but continued using similar dyes in cereals sold to U.S. consumers.
Paxton emphasized that these artificial dyes are not benign. Studies link them to hyperactivity, obesity, autoimmune disorders, endocrine disruption, and even cancer. “A critical part of fighting for our children’s future is putting an end to companies’ deceptive practices that are aimed at misleading parents and families about the health of food products,” Paxton wrote. “Artificial food colorings have been shown to have disastrous impacts on health, and in no world should foods that include these dyes be advertised as ‘healthy.’”
By taking legal action, Paxton is sending a clear message: companies cannot exploit Americans, especially children, with misleading marketing and harmful ingredients without accountability. This agreement with Kellogg’s marks the first time a major cereal manufacturer has signed a binding commitment to eliminate dangerous additives, demonstrating the power of state-level enforcement to protect consumers when federal oversight falls short.
The AVC ensures that Kellogg’s will be held to its promise, and Paxton’s office stressed that continued monitoring will safeguard compliance. For parents concerned about what’s on their family breakfast table, this is a significant win. It’s also a warning to other food giants: legal accountability is real, and deceptive practices won’t go unchecked.
With millions of children eating cereal every morning, Paxton’s aggressive pursuit of Kellogg’s sends a clear conservative message: protecting families, holding corporations responsible, and promoting transparency are essential in defending the health of American children.
