Mars, Incorporated, has formally committed to removing titanium dioxide from its U.S. Skittles candy. This decision, made at the end of last year, follows years of criticism regarding the controversial additive, which has faced scrutiny for potential health risks.
In 2022, the European Union banned titanium dioxide over health risks. This white pigment, prevalent in baked goods, confectionaries, personal care products, and paints, is now banned. Mars recently eliminated this component from its model US Skittles. Such a move is in step with a larger trend of the times, where consumers are increasingly looking for natural ingredients.
Production of Skittles, which began in the United Kingdom, moved to the United States in 1981. In 2009, Mars purchased the brand via its Wrigley subsidiary. It’s the same company that makes other favorite candies including M&Ms and Snickers.
Even Mars, one of the largest candy manufacturers in the world, recognized this shift in consumer sentiment and pledged to remove all artificial colors from its products by 2016. In 2022, a proposed class-action lawsuit over the presence of titanium dioxide in Skittles was brought against candy-maker Mars, but the case was dismissed. Despite this, efforts to ban titanium dioxide continue across various states, with a high-profile initiative in California failing earlier this year.
Mars failed to state why it decided to eliminate titanium dioxide from Skittles. Plus, questions about if this reform would apply to Skittles sold internationally remain unanswered.
“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,” – Mars spokesperson
Even as discussions continue around titanium dioxide, Mars has stood firm insisting that all of its products adhere to strict safety standards.
“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,” – Mars spokesperson