NEW YORK — The parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins says it will remove artificial colors from its products in the U.S. by the end of 2018.

In a statement on its website, the company said it will remove synthetic colors across its menu, “including donut icings, fillings and toppings, as well as frozen beverages such as Fruit Smoothies and Coolatta frozen beverages, baked goods, breakfast sandwiches and coffee flavorings.

Similarly, it said, Baskin-Robbins will remove synthetic colors from “ice cream sold both at its restaurants and in quarts and pints at retail locations, as well as its syrups, sauces, sprinkles and beverages, including Cappuccino Blast®.”

The exceptions on both brands’ menus include “select supplier-branded ingredients produced by other companies and used as toppings, ice cream inclusions or decorative elements.”

Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) is one of the world’s largest fast-food franchisors. At the end of the fourth quarter 2016, Dunkin’ Brands had more than 12,200 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants and more than 7,800 Baskin-Robbins restaurants. The company is headquartered in Canton, Mass. At the end of trading Thursday, the company’s stock traded at 55.45 on the Nasdaq exchange.

Other chains including Subway, Panera and Taco Bell have said they’re removing artificial colors and other ingredients in response to customer demand, but the changes can be challenging. Taco Bell, for instance, said it would remove artificial preservatives by the end of 2017, but earlier this year said it’s taking longer to determine how to maintain product freshness without sacrificing taste.


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