VEVEY, Switzerland, June 30: Nestle plans to remove artificial food colourings from all products worldwide by the end of 2026, a senior ​executive told Reuters on Tuesday, making it the first major food ‌company to take such a step.

The previously unreported target comes as food companies face mounting pressure to offer healthier products amid the rapid rise of GLP-1 weight-loss ​drugs and growing consumer scrutiny of food ingredients.

It extends Nestle’s efforts ​beyond the United States, where it has already eliminated artificial ⁠colourings from its portfolio.

“By the end of the year we will have ​the global Nestle portfolio free of artificial colours,” Stefan Palzer, Nestle’s technology ​chief, told Reuters in an exclusive interview at the firm’s Swiss headquarters in Vevey.

Food manufacturers and retailers have increasingly moved to strip out ingredients such as FD&C synthetic dyes and ​sweeteners including corn syrup from their products.

Amid investor concerns that packaged ​food companies could lose out as consumers shift towards healthier diets, Nestle has increasingly focused ‌on ⁠products aimed at weight-conscious consumers and those concerned about processed foods.

“It was not a slam-dunk,” Palzer said of the decision, adding that Nestle had spent years investing in the transition.

“We had to do a lot of ​R&D work because you ​have to ⁠screen all the natural solutions then you have to test those natural solutions during production, and then also test ​their shelf-life.”

“We did it because consumers don’t appreciate artificial ​ingredients. They ⁠want simpler recipes.”

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and the Food and Drug Administration said in April last year that the agency aims to ⁠remove ​ingredients including artificial food colourings, citing concerns over ​possible links to conditions such as ADHD, obesity and diabetes, although many scientists say more ​research is needed.

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Monday summoned the Afghan chargé d’affaires and lodged a strong diplomatic protest over the recent terrorist attack in Karachi, saying the involvement of Afghan nationals in the incident reinforced its longstanding concerns that Afghan soil continues to be used to orchestrate terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. Responding to media queries, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the Afghan chargé d’affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday night, where a strong demarche was issued regarding the Karachi terrorist attack.
The spokesperson said a similar demarche was also conveyed by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, to the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul. Andrabi said the diplomatic protests were issued in light of the participation of Afghan nationals in the Karachi attack, including one suspect who was apprehended alive during the operation.
“The demarches were issued in light of the fact that Afghan nationals, including one apprehended alive, participated in this attack, proving yet again that Afghan soil and Afghan nationals continue to be used to orchestrate terrorist attacks inside Pakistan,” the spokesperson said.
Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concern over the use of Afghan territory by militant groups to launch cross-border attacks and has urged the Afghan authorities to take effective measures against terrorist organisations operating from their soil. The latest demarche comes amid heightened security concerns following the Karachi terrorist attack and reflects Islamabad’s continued demand that the Afghan authorities prevent their territory from being used for activities that threaten Pakistan’s security and stability. Earlier, on June 27, a terrorist attack was carried out on a Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Camp in Karachi by Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy, Jamaat ul Ahrar.
The assailants, after a blast at main gate of the Camp, attempted to breach the perimeter security, however, their nefarious designs were decisively foiled by the vigilant and resolute response of Rangers troops eliminating three Kharjis and capturing one Kharji, who is an Afghan national, in injured condition, a military statement said.
“During fire exchange, three brave sons of soil, rendered the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat (martyrdom) in the line of duty, while 4 soldiers are injured,” the statement added.
Security forces have killed 29 terrorists during an intelligence-based operation and subsequent precision strikes targeting terrorist camps and safe havens in Pakistan-Afghanistan border region.
In a post on X, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the operation was launched in response to multiple militant attacks across the country. He also shared footage of Pakistani strikes targeting terrorist camps in Afghanistan. He said the operation was followed by calibrated strikes in the border region against the hideouts and safe havens of terrorists belonging to Jamaat ul Ahrar and Fitna al khwarij, killing twenty nine of them.
Giving details, Attaullah Tarar said security forces conducted an intelligence-based ground operation against a group of terrorists near Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Bajaur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
As a result of precise and skillful engagement, high value Kharji Commander Khan Farosh aka Zabal along with three terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Jamaat ul Ahrar were killed while several others were injured.
In continuation of Operation Ghazb Lil Haq, based on credible intelligence, precise targeting of terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Jamaat ul Ahrar and Fitna al khwarij were also carried out on night of 28th and 29th June, in Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. 
Three targets in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar were destroyed during precision strikes killing twenty five terrorists.
Large quantities of weapons and ammunition stored at these hideouts were also destroyed.
The Information Minister further said that Pakistan has always strived for maintaining peace and stability in the region, but at the same time it shall not compromise on the safety and security of its citizens.

South Korea’s captain Son Heung-min issued an apology on Tuesday to fans after the squad’s stunning World Cup first-round elimination, a reality he said was “not easy to accept”.

South Korea crashed out after failing to qualify for the knockout stage as one of the tournament’s eight best third-placed teams.

The last 32 had appeared within reach until a shock 1-0 defeat to lower-ranked South Africa in their final group match ended their campaign.

Former Tottenham captain Son was benched for the first half against South Africa, when a draw would have likely been enough to see South Korea advance.

Son played throughout the second half but was unable to overturn the 1-0 deficit, an outcome that prompted angry criticism of head coach Hong Myung-bo, who resigned on Sunday in the aftermath.

“I honestly don’t know where to begin. I can’t pretend nothing happened, and I don’t want to run away from reality,” Son wrote on Instagram.

“First and foremost, I want to offer my sincerest apologies to the people of South Korea and to all the fans who have supported and loved our national football team,” he added.

Son said South Korea’s early exit was hard to fathom, noting: “To be honest, even now, it is not easy to accept this reality.”

It was widely expected that this year’s World Cup — Son’s fourth appearance — was likely to be his last and questions linger about whether he will continue representing the national team after the tournament.

Son did not address the retirement issue in his post but said he would do everything he could to win back the hearts of the fans.

“Rather than try to express everything in words now, I will do everything I can, from where I stand, to win back the hearts of the South Korean people and football fans,” he said.

“I will fight with everything I have to bring joy to you again,” added Son, who turns 34 next month.