Frank Rondel
M&M’s, Skittles and Starburst without artificial food dyes are now reaching U.S. consumers through Amazon. Mars launched new versions using colors derived from ingredients such as beet juice, turmeric and spirulina, as reported by customreceipt.com.
The original ABC News report examined how Mars developed the reformulated candies. Mars also detailed the launch in its official announcement.
What changed in M&M’s, Skittles and Starburst
Mars is replacing FD&C colors in the new products with alternative coloring ingredients. The company says it spent more than a decade developing formulations and manufacturing processes for the change.
The new colors use several ingredients:
- beet juice for red;
- turmeric for yellow;
- turmeric, beet juice and spirulina for green;
- beta-carotene and carotenals for orange;
- grape-based coloring for some purple shades.
Keeping the familiar taste while reproducing vivid colors at industrial scale became the central technical challenge.
Mars says the reformulated options include M&M’s Chocolate, Skittles Original, Starburst Original and Extra Spearmint Gum. They are being introduced through Amazon in the United States.
Why blue M&M’s remain difficult to reproduce
Blue is particularly complicated because relatively few commonly consumed natural ingredients provide a strong blue color. Mars has experimented with spirulina, but scaling the ingredient for candy production presents manufacturing problems.
Brown also remains challenging. Existing M&M’s products with the traditional color mixture are not disappearing from stores. Mars previously said both original and non-FD&C versions would remain available while alternatives are developed.
Mars researchers also encountered color variations at the Skittles factory in Waco, Texas. Manufacturing variables such as airflow could change the final shade despite an identical recipe, ABC News reported.
Why candy makers are removing artificial dyes
The launch comes during a broader shift in the U.S. food industry. In April 2025, the FDA and Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes.
The initiative targets several certified colors, including:
- FD&C Red No. 40;
- FD&C Yellow No. 5;
- FD&C Yellow No. 6;
- FD&C Blue No. 1;
- FD&C Blue No. 2;
- FD&C Green No. 3.
The FDA now tracks commitments from food manufacturers moving away from petroleum-based dyes. Mars joins a broader industry transition involving several major U.S. food companies.
| Product | New coloring approach | U.S. availability |
|---|---|---|
| M&M’s Chocolate | Beet, turmeric and other alternatives | Amazon |
| Skittles Original | Colors from alternative sources | Amazon |
| Starburst Original | Colors without FD&C dyes | Amazon |
| Extra Spearmint Gum | Formula without FD&C colors | Amazon |
The new products expand consumer choice rather than immediately replacing every existing version. Mars says further changes will depend on finding alternatives that work consistently at large production volumes.
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