Consumers can make a difference; and clearly, they have. The health-conscious all-natural craving shoppers of today want artificial colorings and flavorings out of their food. To meet these new demands, Swiss food company Nestlé is going to remove the offending ingredients from their products and replace them with natural substitutes.

Nestlé has been around for quite some time, leaving us all to realize that it isNestlé is not just some other food corporation. It all began in 1867, when German pharmacist Henri Nestlé launched his mixture of wheat flour, cow’s milk, and sugar  just a year after the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company opened. The founders of Anglo-Swiss and Nestlé worked on a collaboration, and, in 1905, the companies merged. During the wartime, the company fought to obtain raw materials; however, by the war’s end, Nestlé had over 40 factories worldwide.

It wasn’t until the 1920s that Nestlé began to turn to their real money maker: chocolate. They continued to produce milk, and simultaneously, consumers took a liking to newer developments from the company, such as Nescafé (1938), Nestea (1940), and Nesquik (1948). Nestlé’s chocolate candy bars – which were introduced by the company soon after the previous products – gained much popularity. As a result, they decked the halls of grocery stores during the holiday season and became toppings for novelties sundaes and home cake recipes. Nestlé was on to something, and in order to keep up wih other big brands, such as Hershey’s and Mar’s, Nestlé would have to turn their cocoa pods into Crunch bars.

Even though the company heavily concentrates on healthy products, artificial coloring and flavorings do not support that goal whatsoever. History teacher Paul Farese exclaims “Nestlé is doing what is good. They are motivated by profit, and it’s a reflection of what the consumers want.”

Although the company needs alternatives for their ingredients, Nestlé will not have to concern themselves with profit. According to a study from Nielsen’s 2014 Global Health & Wellness Survey, results show over 60 percent of American consumers say the absence of artificial colors or flavors is critical and observed during their food purchases. Consumers demand a better product with better ingredients, which means any company should consider what’s in their food, and know that consumers will love the company more because they respond to customer feedback quickly.

Young adults, at least a few, pay attention to the components of what they eat. Some see the changes food companies make in positive lights, but what is the difference? Sophomore Lauren Singh refutes “If they have had such good business this far, why should they change their products?” The idea of a company changing “their products” and what is in the products is irrelevant to most youth. Behind all of the comments from consumers, in the end, it is the company’s decision. “I think it is a good thing that that are removing the additives” posits junior Courtney Cunningham. Whether customers agree or disagree, a company will do what it pleases in order to please the majority of their consumers.

Over time, Nestlé has branched out, creating a diverse network of brands. The big food corporation owns Lean Cuisine, Buitoni, and Gerber baby food, to name a few. Apart from its popular chocolate bars – Baby Ruth, Butterfinger, and Crunch – Nestlé runs the Wonka candy factories, too.

The ingredients are expected to change as soon as possible: around the middle of 2015. Over 250 products, and 10 brands will be free of artificial flavors and colors. In Butterfinger bars, no longer will Red 40 and Yellow 5 by printed on the bright wrapper. Instead, a natural coloring referenced as annatto will replace the artificial colors. Annatto is found in the seeds of achiote trees; it isn’t developed in labs, the earth is its lab! Additionally, Crunch bars will still have crunch, but not vanillin, an artificial vanilla flavoring. Natural vanilla extract will replace the additive.

Nestlé is setting an example for other companies. Clearly, the opinions of customers are not overlooked. As a result of Nestlé’s changes, food companies will, and should, look into the recipe of their products. Just last year, General Mills announced it will use non-GMO wheat in their Original Cheerios. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese no longer includes Yellow 5 or Yellow 6 in select macaroni products. Big food companies are finally changing so they won’t get passed by in the grocery store anymore!