Doritos and Cheetos Just Made a Major Change

For anyone who’s ever eaten an entire bag of cheesy, crispy Cheetos, the inevitable coating of vivid orange dust left behind on your fingers is irrefutable evidence of your snack. The same goes for Nacho Cheese Doritos, which boast a similar unrealistically bright hue. Not for much longer—the latest Cheetos and Doritos won’t leave your fingers stained at all. Instead of being coated in orange dust, the new snacks will be naked. 

Starting December 1, there will be bags of Cheetos Nacho Cheese Doritos, Cool Ranch Doritos, Cheddar Cheese Cheetos Puffs, and Flamin’ Hot Crunchy Cheetos made without dyes or artificial flavors. This new line is called Simply NKD, and in keeping with the no-dye move, the bags look different than what you’re used to. Instead of vivid red, blue, or orange, the Simply NKD chips have bright white packaging that will definitely stand out in the snack aisle. 

These changes come after the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s announcement that it would require food manufacturers to phase out the use of petroleum-based dyes that have long been common in packaged foods, including Red 40. Frito-Lay, the manufacturer of Doritos and Cheetos, is introducing its Simply NKD chips to remove dyes, artificial flavorings, and other additives from its most popular snacks as customers demand dye-free options. 

Do Simply NKD Chips Look Different?

The new Simply NKD chips do look shockingly different. Instead of the colorful red and green flecks of spices normally found on Cool Ranch Doritos, the Simply NKD version looks much like any other tortilla chip. The same goes for Simply NKD Nacho Cheese Doritos.

The Simply NKD Cheetos are less visually jarring, if only because they look similar to the Simply White Cheddar Cheetos Puffs.

Despite the major visual changes, Frito-Lay promises that the new Simply NKD snacks will pack the same flavor punch as the originals. I’m personally looking forward to scarfing a few handfuls of Doritos in secret without leaving the evidence all over my hands, whether or not there’s a health benefit to removing dyes from my salty snacks. 

People who are devoted to having cheese-coated fingers, don’t fret—the usual Doritos and Cheetos will still be around. The Simply NKD offerings are only an addition to Frito-Lay’s lineup, and the original recipe isn't leaving yet.

If you're dyeing to get your hands on the Simply NKD chips, they’re available for preorder at Walmart right now and will start rolling out at grocery stores nationwide on December 1, 2025.