Kraft To Remove Artificial Dyes From Some Mac & Cheese

CHARLOTTE, N.C.Faced with massive public scrutiny, Kraft Foods announced plans to remove artificial yellow dyes from at least three of its kid-friendly Macaroni & Cheese products in the United States and Canada.

Kraft's decision was prompted by the public's response to a Change.org petition led by food advocate and writer Vani Hari. More than 348,0000 health advocates, consumers and families rallied behind Hari to show support  of the petition.

Triona Schmelter, Kraft's vice president of marketing for meals, told the Associated Press the company plans to remove artificial dyes in Macaroni & Cheese varieties with kid-friendly noodle shapes, including SpongeBob Squarepants, Halloween and winter shapes. Kraft has no plans to remove artificial dyes from its "original flavor" elbow-shaped Macaroni & Cheese.

Kraft met with Hari in April, one month after she initiated the petition, in response to her request to remove yellow dye 5 and yellow dye 6 from its Macaroni & Cheese products. The petition had already garnered 270,000 signatures.

After the meeting, Hari forewarned, "If Kraft is anything like the hundreds of other companies facing a consumer uprising online, theyll eventually start listening to their customers and work with us to ensure the health and safety of all Kraft Macaroni & Cheese products."

Also on the chopping block is Mars, who is currently the subject of another Change.org petition to remove artificial dyes from M&Ms candy. The petition has already collected more than 100,000 signatures.