Nestlé Says It Will Also Remove All Artificial Flavors From Its European Products

A week after Nestlé USA announced that it would remove all artificial flavors and colors from its products by the end of 2015, the multinational company's European sector revealed that it was also in the process of replacing its artificial components with natural ingredients.

A timeline for Nestlé Europe, however, has not been announced.

A spokesperson for Nestlé Europe told Confectionary News, "We have already removed artificial colors from all confectionary products in Europe and have committed to remove all artificial flavors from all confectionary products in Europe as well."  

Not to be outdone, Hershey's also recently announced that it would begin transitioning to non-GMO, "simple, easy-to-understand" ingredients in some of the brand's most popular items, including Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolates and Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars.

"We will strive for simplicity with all of our ingredients, but we may not achieve it with every product," said John Bilbrey, president of The Hershey Company. "This is a journey and it will take time. We are equally committed to sharing what we achieve and what we don't. For ingredients that may not be as simple, we will explain what they are and why we need them to provide the great flavors, aromas, textures, and appearances that our consumers know and love."