Takis is removing Red 40 as well as other artificial dyes by the end of the year 2026.
The removal of Red 40 and other artificial dyes in Takis is a result of a broader FDA initiative to phase out petroleum based synthetic dyes from the US food supply and so the company that makes Takis is working to reformulate their products and use natural alternatives instead, but it will take some time to implement the natural alternatives into the Takis and other products.
Takis are not banned in California for sale.
However a state law known as AB 2316 was passed in 2024, to remove snacks that contain certain synthetic dyes, such as those in Takis, from public schools in California, which is starting in 2027.
This state law, pushes companies to reformulate or lose that market.
The law is not a full state ban on Takis or snacks that contain certain synthetic dyes, but instead is a school specific rule to protect kids from additives that are linked to hyperactivity.
What's banned are Foods with Red Dye 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3 in public schools.
These dyes are linked to hyperactivity and neurobehavioral issues in children, which is the reason for the ban.
You can still buy Takis in stores in California but not in schools.