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The US and international formulas are not the same— here's exactly what changed and why.
Mars USA
| Ingredient | 🇺🇸 US Version | 🌍 International | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanium Dioxide | ✅ Not present | ✅ Not present | Banned Overseas |
| Red Dye 40 | ✅ Not present | ✅ Not present | Banned Overseas |
| Yellow Dye 5 | ✅ Not present | ✅ Not present | Banned Overseas |
| Yellow Dye 6 | ✅ Not present | ✅ Not present | Banned Overseas |
The same company makes both versions — but they use different formulas depending on where the product is sold. In the EU, UK, and Canada, regulations require either banning certain additives outright or mandating warning labels (e.g., "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children" for certain synthetic dyes).
Rather than print warning labels, most manufacturers reformulate the product for international markets — using natural colorants like paprika extract, beetroot concentrate, or spirulina instead of petroleum-derived synthetic dyes.
The US FDA has a different standard: it deems additives "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) based on older safety data, while EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) applies stricter precautionary principles and requires manufacturers to prove safety rather than assume it.
The EU banned titanium dioxide from food in 2022 after EFSA concluded it could not rule out genotoxicity (DNA damage). US Skittles contain titanium dioxide in the white coating base — a compound that European regulators found may cause chromosomal damage. Mars has indicated it is voluntarily phasing out titanium dioxide in the US following regulatory pressure, but as of publication US Skittles still contain the compound that EU shoppers haven't been exposed to in years.
Find clean brands without these ingredients — organized by category.