Lucky Charms ingredients: what's banned overseas?

About Lucky Charms

Lucky Charms is one of General Mills' most iconic cereals, known for its colorful marshmallow pieces. The US formula contains Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1 for the marshmallow colors. These four synthetic dyes all carry EU and UK hyperactivity warning label requirements. General Mills reformulated some of its US products around 2016 to remove artificial colors, but Lucky Charms has maintained synthetic dyes in the US market.

Common concerns with Lucky Charms products

{"ingredient_slug":"red-dye-40","ingredient_name":"Red 40","found_in_product":"Lucky Charms Marshmallows (US)","concern":"EU/UK hyperactivity warning label required. Part of FDA April 2025 voluntary phase-out."}; {"ingredient_slug":"yellow-dye-5","ingredient_name":"Yellow 5","found_in_product":"Lucky Charms (US)","concern":"EU/UK warning label required. Associated with hyperactivity in McCann et al. 2007 Lancet."}; {"ingredient_slug":"yellow-dye-6","ingredient_name":"Yellow 6","found_in_product":"Lucky Charms (US)","concern":"EU/UK warning label required."}; {"ingredient_slug":"blue-dye-1","ingredient_name":"Blue 1","found_in_product":"Lucky Charms (US)","concern":"EU/UK warning label required."}