Starbucks Vows ‘MAHA’ Changes to Menu

Global coffeehouse chain Starbucks will be making changes to its menu to more align with the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, according to the company’s CEO, Brian Niccol.

Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in April he’s phasing out petroleum-based dyes and working with major food companies to voluntarily implement further MAHA changes.

Niccol met with RFK on Tuesday, according to a post from the secretary, and vowed to make the company’s menu healthier.

“Yesterday, I met with [Starbucks] CEO Brian Niccol, who shared the company’s plans to further MAHA its menu,” Kennedy posted to X on Wednesday.

“I was pleased to learn that Starbucks’ food and beverages already avoid artificial dyes, artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and other additives,” he added.

Some Starbucks drinks, however, are known to have incredibly large amounts of sugar in them. A grande white chocolate mocha frappuccino, for example, contains 46 grams of sugar, while it’s recommended that individuals consume no more than 25-36 grams of sugar per day, depending on one’s sex.

Kennedy did not elaborate further on the coming changes.

In addition to this vow from Starbucks, cereal company General Mills said this week it will remove artificial dyes from its products within the next two years. Specifically, artificial colors will be removed from all U.S. cereals and all K-12 school foods by the summer of 2026, Fox Business noted. And by the end of 2027, General Mills plans to be rid of all synthetic colors from its full U.S. retail portfolio.

Moreover, earlier this week, food giant Kraft Heinz announced it will similarly remove all artificial dyes from its foods and beverages by the end of 2027, following pressure from Kennedy and his department.

Kraft Heinz said effectively immediately, no new products will contain such dyes, and all products for U.S. consumers will be synthetic dye-free in a couple years.