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- Mars has announced that they will introduce Skittles, Starbursts, and other popular candies with natural coloring starting next year. However, the company has not committed to transitioning its entire product line away from artificial dyes.
- The company plans to launch natural dye options for four products under its major brands, including M&M’s Chocolate, Skittles Original, Extra Gum Spearmint, and Starburst Original fruit chews.
- Mars intends to provide more information on converting additional products to natural colors as they identify effective and scalable solutions.
Insight into Mars’ Decision:
Prior to this announcement, Mars was one of the few companies still using artificial dyes despite increasing pressure from consumers and regulatory bodies to switch to natural alternatives.
In 2016, Mars committed to removing artificial dyes from their candies within five years. However, after investing significant resources into developing new ingredients and obtaining regulatory approval, the company realized that not all consumers preferred natural dyes.
Mars stated that many consumers worldwide do not view artificial colors as a concern in confectionery products, leading to their decision to offer both options.
With changing regulations and consumer preferences, Mars finally decided to introduce natural dye options, following scrutiny from Texas’ attorney general for not fulfilling their promise to eliminate artificial colors from their products.
The confectionery industry faces challenges in transitioning to natural dyes due to limited supply and uncertainties around pricing and shelf life impacts.