Mars Wrigley to Offer Select Candy Lines Without Synthetic Colors

Mars Wrigley North America announced that beginning in 2026, it will offer four of its iconic products—M&M’s Chocolate, Skittles Original, Extra Gum Spearmint, and Starburst Original fruit chews—without synthetic Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) color additives.

The company described this as part of its ongoing “innovation journey” to provide consumers with more choices when they treat themselves. Mars Wrigley emphasized its commitment to meeting consumer preferences while maintaining safety, technical performance, and taste. Company experts are working to identify color alternatives that meet these standards, with further updates expected once a scalable solution is found.

The change places Mars Wrigley among the early adopters in the industry to offer products made with only natural colors. This follows a broader trend in the food manufacturing sector, with companies such as Kraft Heinz and General Mills pledging to eliminate artificial colors from some product lines. Other major brands have made similar commitments in recent years.

Regulatory changes are also supporting the move toward natural ingredients. Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved new natural color additives, reflecting a shift toward transparency and healthier ingredient options.

Health advocates have long pushed for the removal of synthetic dyes, citing studies that suggest possible links between certain artificial colors and health concerns. Red 3 has already been banned by the FDA, with removal required by 2027, and there are ongoing discussions about phasing out other dyes such as Red 40.