Skittles discontinues use of contested ingredient, following RFK Jr.'s campaign
Mars Inc. announces the elimination of titanium dioxide from Skittles candies, a move initially confirmed to Bloomberg News at the end of last year. This chemical, commonly used to whiten foods and brighten colors in confections, has drawn scrutiny due to potential health risks.
The European Union banned the use of titanium dioxide as a food additive in 2022, citing concerns about nanoparticles accumulating in the body and potential DNA damage. In the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken note, with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. overseeing recent investigations.
The Environmental Working Group and the Center for Food Safety filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023, aiming to remove titanium dioxide's approval as a food color additive. As of March 2024, the FDA's review of this petition is still ongoing.
While titanium dioxide remains permissible within regulated limits in the U.S., Mars Inc. made a corporate decision in 2016 to phase out the additive's use, a pledge that is now being fulfilled. However, titanium dioxide was still present in Sour Skittles earlier this year, indicating that the transition may take some time.
The reformulated Skittles will be reflected on Mars Inc.'s website, but products containing titanium dioxide may still be available on store shelves until they are sold out. It's worth noting that Skittles still use synthetic dyes such as Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1. The FDA and HHS have committed to eliminating these dyes from the U.S. food supply by the end of 2026.
Various food manufacturers, including Mondelez International Inc., Kraft Heinz Co., and JM Smucker Co., continue to use titanium dioxide in their products. The Consumer Brands Association, representing several companies, disagreed with the Food and Drug Administration's plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes but did not specifically comment on titanium dioxide.
The "Make America Healthy Again" report, issued later in 2024, identified titanium dioxide as a potentially harmful additive. The FDA has since pledged to speed up its review of the ingredient, although no ban on titanium dioxide has been implemented as of this update.
- Concerns about the potential health risks associated with titanium dioxide have extended beyond the food industry, with the "Make America Healthy Again" report labeling it as a potentially harmful additive.
- The European Union's ban on titanium dioxide as a food additive in 2022 was initiated due to concerns about nanoparticles accumulating in the body and potential DNA damage.
- The health-and-wellness sector has witnessed a growing interest in chemical-free food products, with Mars Inc.'s elimination of titanium dioxide from Skittles being a notable example.
- The politics of food safety have been under scrutiny, with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) overseeing recent investigations into the potential health risks of titanium dioxide.
