General Mills launches Trix, Lucky Charms cereals with natural colors

Food Dive reported the development on 2026-03-31. The Cotton Candy and “Moana” varieties will debut this summer, the same time the food giant expects to remove synthetic dyes across its cereals.

The report places the news in a wider commercial context. General Mills is launching versions of Lucky Charms and Trix made with colors derived from natural sources, the cereal giant said. Lucky Charms Unicorn Cotton Candy cereal, with three new unicorn marshmallows, and Tropical Trix featuring a tie-in with Disney’s “Moana,” will debut later this summer.

For the food sector, the practical implications extend beyond the immediate announcement. General Mills said it remains on track to remove synthetic dyes from its U.S. cereal portfolio by later this year and from its full U.S. retail portfolio by the end of 2027. As regulatory and consumer pressure pushes food companies to replace artificial colors, new products provide a valuable platform for businesses to test and learn, often on a smaller scale.

Attention now turns to how companies, customers and regulators respond. In this case, General Mills is focusing on individual launches within two major brands and using the new products to showcase that it is following through on its commitment to remove certified dyes. “These cereals showcase the kind of creativity fans love, while also reflecting the progress we’re making to remove certified colors from our cereal portfolio,” said Megan Brooks, business.