USA: ALDI Bans 44 Artificial Ingredients From Its Own Private Label Products
- DRC Discount Retail Consulting GmbH
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Discount Retail Chain ALDI U.S. is sharpening its edge in private label as the category continues to soar in popularity. The discount grocer has announced it is expanding its ingredient standards by removing an additional 44 ingredients from its own food, vitamin and supplement products, including select artificial preservatives, colours, flavours and sweeteners.
More than a decade ago, ALDI removed 13 ingredients and became one of the first national grocers to remove certified synthetic colours from its exclusive products in 2015. Every ALDI-exclusive product must meet the company’s sourcing, testing and ingredient standards.
ALDI is working closely with supplier partners to ensure reformulations meet its quality/taste benchmarks. Reformulated products will roll out in phases between now and December 2027. As changes are completed, updated ingredient information will be reflected directly on packaging, giving shoppers continued transparency into what’s in their cart.
(For a complete list of ingredients no longer permitted in any ALDI private label food product, scroll down to see the table below.)
Retailers like ALDI are reacting to the broader demand for cleaner products. According to Acosta Group research, half of all shoppers say they worry about health risks from artificial ingredients, chemicals or preservatives, a number that rises to 79% among health-focused consumers and 63% for natural channel shoppers.
Walmart announced in the fall that it will remove synthetic dyes from private-label food brands by January of next year.
Save A Lot will remove seven artificial dyes from all private label offerings in 2027 and will complete the removal of FD&C Red 3 from all products by the end of 2026.
Hy-Vee recently debuted its ‘Nothing But The Truth’ health-forward private brand. The line follows clean-label standards, intentionally excluding more than 150 ingredients, among them high-fructose corn syrup, artificial additives and dyes.
And Sam’s Club not long ago reached a 100% “Made Without” milestone for all of its Member’s Mark food and beverage products (excluding sports nutrition and OTC products), having removed more than 40 unwanted ingredients and certified synthetic colors without affecting taste or value.
ALDI's own recent move in the space comes on the heels of launching its first-ever namesake ALDI brand.
ALDI has already removed: | ALDI will remove: |
Brominated Vegetable Oil | Acesulfame K |
FD&C Blue No. 1 – Brilliant Blue FCF | Advantame |
FD&C Blue No. 2 – Indigotine | Anisole |
FD&C Green No. 3 – Fast Green FCF | Aluminum sodium sulfate / Sodium aluminum sulfate |
FD&C Red No. 2 – Amaranth, Citrus red | Azodicarbonamide (ADA) |
FD&C Red No. 3 – Erythrosine | BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) |
FD&C Red No. 40 – Allura red AC | BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) |
FD&C Yellow No. 5 – Tartrazine | Bromated Flour |
FD&C Yellow No. 6 – Sunset yellow FCF | Butylparaben |
Monosodium glutamate | Calcium Bromate |
Orange B | Calcium propionate |
Partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) | Calcium sorbate |
Synthetic Trans Fatty Acid | Canthaxanthin |
| Cyclamates |
| Diacetyl (Synthetic) |
| Dioctyl Sodium Sulfocsuccinate (DSS) |
| Ficin |
| Lactylated esters of mono and diglycerides |
| Lye |
| Methylparaben |
| Morpholine |
| Neotame |
| Olestra |
| Phthalates |
| Potassium aluminum sulfate |
| Potassium benzoate |
| Potassium bisulfite/bisulfate |
| Potassium Bromate |
| Potassium metabisulphite |
| Potassium nitrate |
| Potassium nitrite |
| Propylene Oxide |
| Propylparaben |
| Simplesse (brand name) |
| Sodium aluminium phosphate acidic / Aluminum sodium phosphate |
| Sodium ferrocyanide (Yellow Prussiate of Soda) |
| Sodium hydroxide |
| Sodium propionate |
| Sodium stearyl fumarate |
| Stearyl tartrate |
| Sucroglycerides |
| Talc |
| Titanium Dioxide |
| Toluene |
Batavia, Ill.-based ALDI U.S. currently serves millions of customers across the country each month at more than 2,500 stores. Its global headquarters is in Germany. The U.S. company is No. 25 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2025 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America. PG also named ALDI among its Impact Award winners.
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