A look at food companies that removed ingredients in response to online consumer demands

Food and beverage companies are under increasing pressure to remove funny sounding ingredients from their products as consumers go online to voice their preference for more natural ingredients.

Here are some recent examples of changes made to satisfy online demands:

— Starbucks last year removed cochineal extract, a red dye made from crushed bugs, from its food and drinks after an online petition. The company says the decision was the result of customer feedback it received through “a variety of means.”

— Earlier this year, PepsiCo removed brominated vegetable oil from Gatorade. An online petition had noted the ingredient’s link to flame retardants. PepsiCo said the decision was the result of broader customer feedback.

— Kraft Foods says it will reformulate select varieties of its macaroni and cheese next year to use natural colours. A petition by a popular food blogger had asked the company to remove the artificial dyes. Kraft says the reformulation is a part of an ongoing push to improve the overall nutrition of its products.

— Chick-fil-A has been removing artificial dyes and high-fructose corn syrup from dressings and sauces. The company says people are becoming more aware of ingredients and that it expects to continue making changes.