In the United States, the skittles are no longer made with titanium dioxide, a color additive that was prohibited in the European Union in 2022 Possible health risks.
The Sweets Mars said that he had stopped using the ingredient in his US Skittle portfolio at the end of last year.
This decision follows years of criticism on the presence of titanium dioxide in candies and comes as the elevation by US President Donald Trump of Robert F Kennedy JR to lead the Ministry of Health and Social Services has made concerns about food processed at the front of public health debates.
Mars said in 2016 that he would stop using “all artificial colors” in his food, citing the evolution of consumer preferences.
The company has not commented if consumers would notice a difference.
March and other companies challenged health risk claims associated with the consumption of titanium dioxide, a white pigment used in bakery, candies, cosmetics and other products such as painting.
It is authorized in many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand.
In the United States, a high-level effort in 2023 in California to ban the ingredient was defeated, but efforts in other states continue to boil.
The Make America report in good health of the White House Posted earlier this month He also highlighted titanium dioxide and other food additives as a key concern.
Mars, which also makes M&M, SNICkers and Snack-Bar Gentiles, did not explain why he had made the decision, which was reported for the first time by Bloomberg.
The company did not respond when it was asked if the change would apply to skittles sold outside the United States.
“Our commitment to quality is what has allowed Mars to be appreciated by consumers for more than a century, and nothing is more important than the safety of our products,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“All our products are sure to assess and comply with high standards and applicable regulations established by food security authorities around the world, and that is something we will never compromise on.”
The skittles, which ranked among the most popular soft candies in the world, were invented in the United Kingdom.
They have been manufactured in the United States since 1981. The Wrigley division of March bought the brand in 2009.
In 2022, the company was faced with a collective appeal on titanium dioxide in Skittles, which was rejected.
