WK Kellogg Co. has signed an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, pledging to eliminate artificial food colorings from all of its breakfast cereals sold in the United States by the end of 2027. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the pact on Aug. 13, calling it the first legally binding agreement of its kind in the packaged-food sector. "I’m proud to officially say Kellogg’s will stop putting these unhealthy ingredients in its cereals," Paxton said in a statement. The accord follows a months-long investigation by Paxton’s office into whether Kellogg misrepresented certain products as healthy while using petroleum-based dyes—including Red 40 and Yellow 5—that studies have linked to hyperactivity and other health risks. Kellogg said about 85 percent of its U.S. cereal sales already come from products without artificial dyes and that it views the reformulation as an opportunity to meet growing consumer demand for cleaner labels. While several food manufacturers have publicly vowed to phase out synthetic colors, Kellogg is the first to formalize its commitment through a court-enforceable document. Paxton urged other companies to adopt similar agreements, saying they would demonstrate a tangible commitment to improving public health. The deal aligns with a broader federal push to curb synthetic additives under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s "Make America Healthy Again" initiative. Mars Wrigley has separately promised to market dye-free versions of M&M’s, Skittles, Starburst and Extra gum beginning in 2026, and Kraft Heinz and General Mills have announced partial phase-outs of artificial colors. Industry analysts say the Kellogg pact could accelerate the shift toward natural ingredients across the U.S. food sector.