PepsiCo swaps out 'natural' for 'simply'

PepsiCo is replacing the word "natural" with "simply" on some of its products' labels. PepsiCo says the change is no more than a marketing update, but the new labeling comes after several companies faced legal challenges over their use of "natural" labeling including Ben & Jerry's, Bryers and Pepperidge Farm. FDA doesn't define "natural" but doesn't object to products with this label if they don't contain "added color, artificial flavors or synthetic substances." It is yet to be seen if the new "simply" labeling will draw the same types of legal challenges as the "natural" labeling.

Associated Press
January 24, 2014

PepsiCo rebrands 'Natural' products with 'Simply'

PepsiCo has quietly gotten rid of the word "Natural" in some of its products and instead is going with "Simply.

The company changed its "Simply Natural" line of Frito-Lay chips to simply be called "Simply," although the ingredients remain the same. Similarly, its "Natural Quaker Granola" got a makeover as "Simply Quaker Granola."

The food and beverage giant says the name changes, which took place last year, are the result of it updating its marketing. But they come at a time when PepsiCo and other companies face legal challenges over their use of the word "natural."

The Food and Drug Administration doesn't have a definition for what constitutes "natural," but says it doesn't object to the word's use as long as the product doesn't contain "added color, artificial flavors or synthetic substances." Still, a number of lawsuits recently have challenged whether the ingredients in products labeled as "natural" fit that billing.

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