Skittles in the United States is no longer made with titanium dioxide, a color additive that was banned by the European Union in 2022 over potential health risks. But remains in some U.S. products.
Mars, the confectionery giant behind Skittles, confirmed that it phased out the ingredient from its U.S. product line by the end of last year. The move follows sustained scrutiny of titanium dioxide, which has drawn criticism for its use in food despite concerns about its safety.
The timing of the change also coincides with a renewed national focus on food additives, fueled in part by the recent appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Donald Trump. Kennedy’s appointment has intensified public debate around processed foods and chemical additives.
The White House states that it is fully addressing the growing health crisis in America.
Mars first announced plans to eliminate artificial colors from its products in 2016, citing shifting consumer preferences. The company has not stated whether the reformulated Skittles look or taste different without titanium dioxide, a substance commonly used to brighten or add a sheen to foods.
Although permitted in the U.S., the UK, Canada, and New Zealand, titanium dioxide remains a controversial substance. It is widely used in products ranging from baked goods and candy to cosmetics and paint. Mars and other manufacturers have long defended its safety, disputing claims that the compound poses health risks.
A 2023 effort in California to ban titanium dioxide failed, but similar initiatives are still underway in other states. This month, the White House’s Make America Healthy Again report also flagged the additive as a growing concern in food safety policy.
The decision by Mars, which also produces M&Ms, Snickers, and Kind bars, was first reported by Bloomberg. The company has not said whether the ingredient’s removal will extend to Skittles sold outside the U.S.
In a statement, a Mars spokesperson reaffirmed the company’s commitment to safety and regulatory compliance: “Our commitment to quality is what has enabled Mars to be enjoyed by consumers for over a century, and nothing is more important than the safety of our products. All our products are safe to enjoy and meet the high standards and applicable regulations set by food safety authorities around the world, and that’s something we will never compromise on.”
Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), credited pressure from state-level actions for driving companies like Mars to reformulate their products. The EWG, which has raised alarms over titanium dioxide for years, submitted a petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023 seeking a federal ban—one that has yet to receive a response.
“The FDA has said a lot of things about food additives,” Benesh said, “but we have not seen them take any enforceable actions yet. What has unquestionably made a difference is all of the action at the state level.”
Skittles, one of the world’s most iconic chewy candies, originated in the UK and have been manufactured in the U.S. since 1981. Mars acquired the brand in 2009 through its Wrigley division. The company faced a class-action lawsuit in 2022 over titanium dioxide in Skittles, but the case was ultimately dismissed.