Candy without Red 40, Yellow 5, or Red 3

Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, Starburst, and Hot Tamales all use synthetic petroleum dyes the EU restricts or bans. These candy brands use plant-based colors and clean ingredients.

Hand-picked clean swaps

Audited products free of synthetic dyes, BHA, BHT, and HFCS.

Audited CleanClean dye-free
Himalayan Pink Salt Popcorn
Lesser Evil
Zero artificial dyes or preservatives — none of the Red 40 or Yellow 5 found in conventional microwave popcorn. Non-GMO verified.
$4–6/bag
Audited CleanKid-safe
Organic Cheddar Bunnies
Annie's
Free from artificial colors including Red 40 and Yellow 6, which are required to carry warning labels in the EU. USDA Organic certified.
$5–7/box
Audited CleanEU-grade
Original Grain-Free Granola
Simple Mills
No BHA, BHT, or TBHQ preservatives — synthetic antioxidants restricted or banned in Japan and the UK. Made with whole almonds and seeds.
$9–11/bag
Audited CleanClean dye-free
Dark Chocolate Chips
Lily's
Sweetened with stevia instead of high-fructose corn syrup, which is restricted in many EU products. No artificial colors.
$6–8/bag
Audited CleanEU-grade
Chocolate Bark Crackers
Hu Kitchen
No TBHQ, no BHT, no artificial preservatives of any kind. Clean ingredients only — aligns with EU additive standards.
$7–9/box
Audited CleanPregnancy-safe
Simple Squares Almond Honey Bar
Simple Squares
No sodium nitrite, artificial colors, or preservatives of concern. 6 ingredients total — ideal for pregnancy-safe snacking.
$3–4/bar

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More dye-free options on Amazon

Conventional brands that still use these dyes

  • Skittles
  • Sour Patch Kids
  • Starburst
  • Hot Tamales
  • Peeps
  • Maraschino cherries
  • Twizzlers
  • M&Ms
  • Jolly Ranchers

Frequently asked questions

Why was Red 3 banned by the FDA?

In January 2025, the FDA banned Red 3 (erythrosine) in food after years of evidence linking it to thyroid tumors in male rats. Manufacturers have until January 2027 to remove it.

Are jelly beans dye-free?

Most conventional jelly beans (Jelly Belly, Brach’s) contain Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, and Red 3. Surf Sweets and YumEarth organic jelly beans use plant-based colors.

Do European Skittles taste different?

Yes. European Skittles were reformulated in 2010 to use natural colors (radish, lemon, blackcurrant, paprika). They taste slightly more muted because they don’t use synthetic petroleum dyes.

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