You can now buy Otter Pops made without artificial flavors or dyes

Popsicles are a favorite treat for kids everywhere — especially on hot days like the ones many of us have been experiencing lately. And one of the classic popsicle brands, the Otter Pop, likely features in some of your own childhood summer memories.

Now, your favorite popsicles are getting even better. The Otter Pop and its beloved otter caricature flavors are getting an all-natural ingredient makeover. The brand recently announced the switch via some tongue-in-cheek social media posts like the one below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx2VkchBy61/

While Strawberry Short Kook, Sir Isaac Lime, Little Orphan Orange, Poncho Punch, Alexander the Grape and Louie-Bloo Raspberry won’t be staining your tongue all of the different colors of the rainbow in the new 100% Fruit Juice Otter Pops, they do contain a shorter list of ingredients and additives.

They’re now “colorless” or, rather, several shades of tan, mostly from the apple juice from concentrate in the new recipes. Also in the new pops are water, sugar, apple juice from concentrate and less than 2% citric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate.

As Otter Pops put it when they announced the new version of their popsicles, “They’re supposed to look like this, promise. Our 100% Fruit Juice Otter Pops have no artificial flavors or colors, but the same zippy taste you know and love.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByWGZ60AEzB/

Otter Pops were first introduced in 1970, and the tall, clear plastic tubes filled with brightly colored frozen popsicles quickly became a kid-time staple.

Not sure where to buy the iconic iced treat? Otter Pops has a store locator on its site. Walmart is selling the new 100% fruit juice versions as well, and they are being rolled out at Costcos on the West Coast.

Otter Pops used to sell a coconut water version but it now seems to be less available. You can also find artificially flavored Tropical Otter Pops and a Beach Breakers sorbet version.

In responding to the news, fans worried that the original hues of Otter Pops were going away (they’re not), while others were excited to get rid of the artificial food coloring.

“As a mom of a child who reacts to food dye, I’m so excited!!!” wrote Facebook user Carrie Elves Tanner on an Otter Pop post showing the colorless pops. “I love otter pops and now we can have them back in the house again!!”

While you can still buy the original, artificially dyed, brightly colored Otter Pops online at places like Amazon, it seems like putting a focus on flavor and fewer ingredients is a good thing.

What do you think?