Turkey Hill is making a change to its popular ice cream line. The Lancaster County-based company announced it will phase out artificial food dyes from its products by 2027, aligning with a broader industry shift.
Turkey Hill is among dozens of dairy companies pledging to eliminate synthetic dyes such as Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. Together, these companies represent 90% of U.S. ice cream production, according to the International Dairy Foods Association.
As part of the transition, Turkey Hill will begin using a newly approved natural dye, Gardenia blue, to replace synthetic blues in its products. Derived from the Gardenia jasminoides Ellis fruit—long used in traditional Chinese medicine—Gardenia blue was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in dairy products like ice cream.
While Gardenia blue is not yet allowed in beverages or candies, its approval for ice cream marks a significant milestone in the move toward cleaner ingredient lists in popular frozen desserts.
Consumers can expect to see changes gradually as Turkey Hill updates its recipes and packaging.
Source: WGAL