Mars just changed the color of comfort food, and it did it without the dyes you grew up with.
Story Snapshot
- Mars is rolling out versions of M&M’s, Skittles, and Starburst made without artificial dyes starting in 2026.
- Launch began online, with Amazon as an early channel for dye-free options.
- M&M’s first dye-free bags skip blue and brown while Mars works on natural matches.
- Colors come from plants like beet, turmeric, spirulina, and beta-carotene, not petroleum-based dyes.
What Mars Announced And When You Can Buy It
Mars Wrigley North America said it would offer “product options” without Food, Drug and Cosmetic certified dyes across four brands in 2026. The first set includes M&M’s Chocolate, Skittles Original, Starburst Original, and Extra Spearmint gum. The company is not replacing the classic versions.
It is adding a cleaner-label lane and letting shoppers choose. That approach fits a common food playbook. Test new formulas, protect the flagship, and earn trust one bag at a time.
Some of the country's most recognizable candies are getting a makeover.
Starting Thursday, new versions of M&M's, Skittles and Starburst made without artificial food dyes are available to consumers on Amazon. https://t.co/FZfuqmNznz
— ABC News (@ABC) August 13, 2026
Early buying options focus online. News coverage pointed to nationwide access through Amazon as an opening move. That path cuts risk. It lets Mars manage supply, watch reviews, and tweak batches before a full shelf splash. Many shoppers now treat their carts like search engines.
Meeting them online first keeps the rollout controlled and visible. The stores will still matter, but the lab meets the checkout page long before the endcap does.
How Do You Color Candy Without Artificial Dyes?
The new colors come from plants and well-known natural pigments. Reports cite blends like beet juice for red, turmeric for yellow, and mixes of turmeric, beet, and spirulina for green. Beta-carotene and carotenoids round out orange and related hues. These sources are not exotic.
They show up in juices, snacks, and even pantry spices. The trick is matching pop, stability, and cost. Candy endures heat, light, and time. Nature can do it, but the recipe must work every day.
M&M’s highlight the tradeoffs. The first dye-free set skips blue and brown. Blue is a known challenge with natural pigments. Stable, bright blue shades are rare and pricey.
Brown is easy to make, but hitting that familiar M&M’s tone without synthetic help is not instant. Mars says the first version leaves both out while the team works on solutions. That is honest product design. Ship the colors that clear the bar. Keep pushing on the rest.
Why Mars Is Doing This Now
Parent brands read the same signals you do. Families read labels. Schools ask for cleaner snacks. States and countries debate color rules. Media headlines raise questions parents cannot ignore. Mars does not need to ban the old to win the new. It needs to offer a fair choice at a fair price.
That is a market answer, not a mandate. It respects personal freedom and consumer voice. If the dye-free bags sell, stores will expand space on their own. That is how accountability should work.
Food makers also protect their future by managing risk. Natural dyes reduce exposure to heat from lawmakers and lawsuits. They also open doors in markets with tighter rules. A phased rollout is just smart operations. It staggers capital, trains plants, and builds muscle memory for the new colors.
Reports say Mars is investing real people and money into the shift, which signals ambition beyond a PR splash. If the line earns repeat buys, the supply chain will follow.
What Changes For You At The Shelf
You will see two kinds of bags. The classics remain for now. The new options use natural colors and say so on the pack. The early sets may look a little different. Expect a tighter color set for M&M’s at first, with no blue or brown in the dye-free version.
Skittles and Starburst will rely on fruit and plant tones, which may look softer than the neon you remember. The trade is clear labels in exchange for a shade or two less punch. Many will call that a win.
Pricing and taste will decide the verdict. If the new bags taste right and do not cost much more, they will earn a spot in lunch boxes and office bowls. If color fades or price jumps, shoppers will shrug and grab the old standbys.
That is the beauty of choice. No lecture. No ban. Just a simple vote at the register. Given the scale of Mars and the steady move across the aisle, bet on fast learning and better batches with each run.
Sources:
abcnews.com, facebook.com, saudifoodtech.sa, ts2.tech, thehill.com
