The Blubber

Skittles in the United States are no longer made with titanium dioxide, a color additive banned by the European Union in 2022 due to potential health concerns.

Confectionery giant Mars confirmed it removed the ingredient from its U.S. Skittles line at the end of last year.

The change follows years of criticism over the inclusion of titanium dioxide in candies and comes amid renewed public health debate in the U.S., heightened by President Donald Trump’s appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services—a move that has amplified scrutiny of processed foods.

Mars had previously announced in 2016 that it would eliminate “all artificial colors” from its products, citing shifting consumer preferences.

The company did not say whether consumers would notice any difference in Skittles following the removal of the additive, which is often used to enhance shine and brighten color in food.

Mars, along with other companies, has disputed claims that titanium dioxide poses health risks. The white pigment is commonly found in baked goods, candies, cosmetics, and even non-food items like paint. It remains approved for use in countries including the U.S., U.K., Canada, and New Zealand.

In 2023, a prominent effort to ban titanium dioxide in California failed, but similar legislative pushes in other states are ongoing.

Earlier this month, the White House’s Make America Healthy Again report also flagged titanium dioxide and other food additives as a public health concern.

Mars—which also produces M&Ms, Snickers, and Kind snack bars—did not provide a reason for the decision to eliminate the ingredient, a change first reported by Bloomberg. The company also declined to comment on whether the update applies to Skittles sold outside the U.S.

“Our commitment to quality is what has enabled Mars products to be loved by consumers for over a hundred years. Nothing is more important than the safety of our products,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “All our products are safe to enjoy and comply with the high standards and 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), a Washington-based advocacy group focused on chemical safety, praised state-level efforts for pressuring companies like Mars to reformulate their products.

She noted that EWG had yet to receive a response from the FDA regarding a petition it filed in 2023 urging the agency to ban titanium dioxide.

“The FDA has made statements about food additives, but we haven’t seen any enforceable actions,” Benesh said. “What has clearly made a difference is all the movement happening at the state level.”