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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.
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.
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.
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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