GMI Bringing Back Artificially Colored Trix Cereal
2017-09-22 14:56:24
“Our Trix fans have been calling us, e-mailing us and reaching out to us on social media asking if we would consider bringing back the original formulation of Trix cereal with its vibrant colors,” said Mike Siemienas, a General Mills spokesman, on Sept. 22.
“As a result, we are launching ‘Classic Trix’ to fill these consumer requests. We will continue to offer our current formulation of Trix with no artificial flavors and no colors from artificial sources, which has its own fan base, along with Classic Trix. So both products will be available for consumers. Consumers have differing food preferences, and we heard from many Trix fans that they missed the bright vibrant colors and the nostalgic taste of the classic Trix cereal.” 
Erika B. Smith, Ph.D., a technology director for General Mills, spoke about Trix colors in a July 19, 2016, presentation at the Institute of Food Technologists’ annual meeting and food exposition in Chicago. She said Trix at that time contained the colors of yellow, orange, purple and red from natural sources, but General Mills had yet to find naturally sourced answers for blue and green.
She said Trix colors need to be bright and intensely colored, which means General Mills had to use a large amount of naturally sourced colors, increasing input costs. She also talked about the importance of colors in children’s cereal.
“Colors, quite frankly, make breakfast fun for kids,” Dr. Smith said.
