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Welcome to the serious side of the rainbow.

Where people wear glasses, black suits, conduct legal research, and type up the latest information that keeps the world of Skittles® spinning. 

 

Acronyms Mean Serious Business

FD&C is an abbreviation for “Food, Drug, & Cosmetic” as it’s used in reference to the United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a set of laws that grants the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to oversee the quality and safety of foods sold in the US, including the ingredients and additives used in foods.

 

Keeping the Rainbow, well, Colorful…

As part of its oversight, the FDA identifies the specific color additives that may be used in foods. Approved color additives include colors derived from natural sources, such as vegetables or plants, and colors that are synthetically derived.

 

The name, “FD&C colors,” is given to a specific group of FDA-approved, synthetically derived colors.  In the ingredient list on a food label, FD&C colors are identified by a color name followed by a number. For example, FD&C colors include:

  • Blue 1 and Blue 1 Lake
  • Blue 2 and Blue 2 Lake
  • Red 40 and Red 40 Lake
  • Yellow 5 and Yellow 5 Lake
  • Yellow 6 and Yellow 6 Lake

 

With the removal of FD&C colors from select Skittles® bite size candies,  product labels will change in the following ways:

  • The list of ingredients will no longer include FD&C color names like Blue 1. Colors used in a product will be listed as COLORS ADDED.
  • The label may include a claim calling out no use of non-FD&C colors in the applicable product.

 

No FD&C Colors in the ROYGBIV

Colors used in Skittles® Original Bite Size Candies 27.5 oz pouch include:

Beet juice concentrate

Beta-carotene

Calcium carbonate

Grape juice concentrate

Spirulina extract

Turmeric oleoresin

 

The Taste of the Rainbow is Still the Same 

But rest assured: the rainbow is still as bold, bright, fruity, and delightfully unexpected as ever. Same mouthwatering fruity fun. Same chewy Rainbow experience. Still SKITTLES.

 

SKITTLES Original Fruity Candy 27.5 oz made without FD&C Colors is available only on Amazon(open in new tab).