The news of legendary West Coast burger chain In-N-Out expanding to more of the country was huge news.
But now they’re shaking things up even more.
And In-N-Out just announced this big menu change that will have RFK Jr pumping his fist.
In-N-Out ditching the bad stuff
California-based In-N-Out recently announced seven new locations as it expands across the U.S.
ITS A GOOD DAY!
In-N-Out Burger is expanding across the U.S. with seven new locations.
Four new restaurants are opening in California.Here are the new locations:
Indio: 82177 Ave. 42
Monrovia:
560 W. Huntington Dr.
Modesto:
3401 Oakdale Rd.
Sylmar:
13864 Foothill Blvd.… pic.twitter.com/y8v25aBevv— Mike Netter (@nettermike) May 8, 2025
And now the popular burger chain has just announced some more welcome news.
In-N-Out announced that it will be removing artificial ingredients from several of its menu items as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services works to phase out synthetic food dyes.
The chain will be replacing the artificial food dyes in its popular pink lemonade and strawberry syrup, two staples of its limited but beloved menu.
In-N-Out is also changing its ketchup recipe to remove high-fructose corn syrup, a sweetener that Kennedy has specifically targeted as harmful.
The burger chain confirmed these changes in a statement after news of the menu adjustments began circulating on social media.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to providing our customers with the highest-quality ingredients, we have removed artificial coloring from our Strawberry Shakes and Signature Pink Lemonade,” In-N-Out said. “We’re also in the process of transitioning to an upgraded ketchup, which is made with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.”
IN-N-OUT continues to evolve without losing sight of its quality and mission
Shining example of what can be done in California in spite of bad state government pic.twitter.com/8G5QtGso8x— Mike Netter (@nettermike) May 15, 2025
Kennedy’s food coloring crackdown
These changes come as part of a broader push by the Department of Health and Human Services under Kennedy’s leadership to eliminate petroleum-based synthetic dyes from foods and medicines in the United States.
In late April, the department announced plans to phase out most synthetic food colorings by the end of 2026.
Earlier this year in January, HHS also announced that Red 3, a food dye that has been linked to health concerns, would be eliminated in the coming years.
To replace these synthetic colors, the FDA has approved three natural food colorants: Galdieria blue, butterfly pea extract, and calcium phosphate. More natural alternatives are currently awaiting approval from federal regulators.
While high-fructose corn syrup isn’t on the ban list yet, Kennedy has made it clear he wants to steer Americans away from the controversial sweetener that’s been linked to obesity and other health issues.
During his Senate confirmation hearings, Kennedy stated that America’s chronic disease epidemic represents an “existential threat” to the nation’s health and economic well-being.
Other restaurants following suit
In-N-Out isn’t the only restaurant chain making changes in response to Kennedy’s health initiatives.
Steak ‘n Shake recently announced that its French fries would be “RFK’d” – meaning they’ll now be cooked in 100 percent beef tallow instead of vegetable oils.
This move away from seed oils toward more traditional cooking fats aligns with Kennedy’s nutritional philosophy, which favors natural ingredients over heavily processed alternatives.
The Trump administration has made improving American health a priority, with Kennedy spearheading the effort through his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. Kennedy has been outspoken about the dangers of ultra-processed foods, synthetic additives, and artificial ingredients in the American diet.
These changes at popular restaurant chains represent early wins for Kennedy’s agenda, showing that his influence is already being felt across the food industry just months into his tenure at HHS.
For consumers, these menu changes mean they’ll soon be enjoying their favorite In-N-Out treats with fewer artificial ingredients – a small but significant step toward Kennedy’s goal of creating a healthier America.
