M&M's to Switch to Natural Food Dyes, Dropping Blue and Brown Colors
Mars announced that its M&M's candies will replace artificial colors with natural dyes in August, eliminating the blue and brown varieties due to cost and production challenges.
Mars Corp. said its M&M's chocolate candies will be reformulated with natural food dyes beginning in August, removing the blue and brown colors from the product line. The company cited the high cost and manufacturing difficulties of natural alternatives, such as a spirulina-based blue dye, which also caused equipment buildup during testing. Other colors will remain, using ingredients like beet and turmeric extracts.
"We are committed to meeting new regulatory standards while maintaining product quality," a Mars spokesperson said.
The change follows broader industry moves away from synthetic color additives, a trend also affecting brands such as Skittles and Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Mars indicated that the existing artificially colored M&M's will stay on shelves for the time being, and it hopes to reintroduce natural versions of the discontinued colors by 2028 after upgrading its production facilities.