Schwan Food says it will be the latest big food company to get rid of artificial and unhealthy ingredients. The maker of frozen foods and desserts plans to remove the ingredients, as well as high-fructose corn syrup, from its products by 2017.
Schwan, whose brands include Red Baron frozen pizza and Mrs. Smith’s pies, says the shift will cost $12 million. It plans to do away with artificial colors and partially hydrogenated oils and artificial trans fats by the end of this year, corn syrup next year, and artificial flavors by the end of 2017. Schwan also delivers food to school cafeterias.
“As a frozen-food leader, we are committed to offering quality foods made with the same recognizable ingredients you would find in your pantry,” CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios said in a statement. “We are working to eliminate artificial trans fats, partially hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial flavors and dyes over the next two years, and we will continue to evaluate our ingredient lists to ensure we are satisfying consumer expectations.”
In May, Fortune’s Beth Kowitt wrote about the move away from artificial coloring and flavors by the world’s biggest food companies in an in-depth report.