Tyson Foods will eliminate high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from all of its domestic branded products by the end of the year, aligning itself with the Trump administration’s public health agenda.
The meatpacking giant behind brands such as Jimmy Dean, Ball Park, and Hillshire said on Sept. 15 that it would also phase out sucralose, an artificial sweetener; the preservatives BHA and BHT; and titanium dioxide, a food coloring.
The decision was voluntary and follows Tyson’s earlier efforts to reduce sodium, sugars, and other food additives, the company said. In May, Tyson removed petroleum-based synthetic dyes from its branded products across the country.
“We continuously review and assess our product portfolio to ensure the highest quality products that meet the needs of consumers,” Donnie King, Tyson’s president and chief executive, said in a statement. “Our decision to remove High Fructose Corn Syrup and other ingredients reflects our ongoing commitment to feeding the world like family, while preserving the taste, value and integrity that define our iconic brands.”
Tyson, which processes about 20 percent of the beef, pork, and chicken in the United States, is the latest food company to voluntarily alter its recipes in response to the Trump administration’s call for a healthier national food supply. The administration’s health campaign, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. through the Make America Healthy Again Commission, has pressed companies to abandon food additives linked to long-term health problems.
In a May 22 report, the commission identified three ingredients—ultra-processed grains, sugars, and fats—as the leading drivers of poor health outcomes among American children.
“Most American children’s diets are dominated by ultra-processed foods (UPFs) high in added sugars, chemical additives, and saturated fats, while lacking sufficient intakes of fruits and vegetables,” the MAHA report stated. “This modern diet has been linked to a range of chronic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.”
The report also highlighted a range of additives it considers harmful to children’s health. Among those specifically mentioned were titanium dioxide, propylparaben, BHA and BHT, and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin.
Several large food companies have announced changes in the wake of the MAHA report.
Kraft Heinz, Nestlé USA, and J.M. Smucker pledged to remove artificial colors, while Coca-Cola in July announced a cane-sugar version of its flagship soda. It will be sold alongside, not in place of, the traditional HFCS drink.
HFCS production in the United States has declined in recent years but remains sizable, as its low cost has long made it the sweetener of choice for food and beverage makers. Federal data suggest that in 2024, the United States produced more than 6.8 million metric tons of corn syrup.
The Corn Refiners Association, which represents HFCS producers across the nation, has defended the sweetener’s safety and warned that eliminating the sweetener would hurt farmers. Complete elimination of HFCS, according to the trade group, would lower corn prices by up to 34 cents per bushel and wipe out $5.1 billion in revenue to farms.
“HFCS has been used for decades because it is a safe, functional, and affordable ingredient that keeps food prices stable and supports jobs in rural U.S. communities,” John Bode, the association’s president and chief executive, said in a statement after Coca-Cola agreed to explore cane sugar as an alternative.
While acknowledging health risks linked to sugar consumption, Bode said those concerns apply broadly and that corn-based sugar should not be singled out.
“HFCS is nutritionally equivalent to sugar and other caloric sweeteners, such as honey, sugar, and agave,” Bode said. “Due to the growing global obesity epidemic, we do not promote increased consumption of HFCS and encourage consumers to limit consumption of caloric sweeteners and other sources of calories.”
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