Skittles, Original

What’s in it

• CSugarAdded cane or beet sugar. It is not unsafe in small amounts, but it is a refined added sugar that can contribute to excess calorie intake and tooth decay when used often.PubMed · NIH
• DCorn SyrupA refined sweetener made from corn starch. It is considered safe as an ingredient, but it adds free sugar and is linked to dental caries and poor diet quality when eaten frequently.PubMed · NIH
• FHydrogenated Palm Kernel OilAn industrially hydrogenated fat. Partially hydrogenated oils are a major source of trans fat, which major health authorities have determined is unsafe for regular consumption.PubMed · NIH
• ACitric AcidA common food acid naturally found in citrus and also made for use in foods. It is generally recognized as safe and is used in small amounts to add tartness and help preserve foods.PubMed · NIH
• CTapioca DextrinA starch-derived thickener made from cassava. It is generally considered safe, but it is a refined carbohydrate with limited nutritional value.PubMed · NIH
• CModified Corn StarchA processed starch made from corn and used to thicken or stabilize foods. It is generally safe, but it is a refined ingredient with limited nutritional value.PubMed · NIH
• CNatural And Artificial FlavorsA catch-all flavoring blend that may include multiple compounds. Safety is generally acceptable at regulated levels, but the exact mixture is not disclosed, so specific child-focused safety data are limited.PubMed · NIH
• DRed 40 LakeAn FDA-permitted synthetic color additive. Some evidence and regulatory reviews suggest synthetic dyes may affect behavior in a subset of sensitive children, so it is rated toward the higher end of the additive range.PubMed · NIH
• DYellow 5 LakeAn FDA-permitted synthetic dye used for coloring. Artificial colors like Yellow 5 have child-relevant safety concerns because some studies link them to hyperactivity in sensitive children.PubMed · NIH
• DBlue 2 LakeAn FDA-permitted synthetic color additive in lake form. Blue 2 is a synthetic dye with limited child safety concerns, and artificial colors have been associated with behavioral effects in some sensitive children.PubMed · NIH
• DYellow 6 LakeAn FDA-permitted synthetic dye used in lake form for coloring. Yellow 6 is an artificial color with child-relevant safety concerns, including links in some studies to hyperactivity in sensitive children.PubMed · NIH
• FTitanium DioxideA white coloring agent that was formally judged unsafe as a food additive by the EU due to concerns about possible genotoxicity. This is one of the clearest higher-risk additives for children.EFSAPubMed · NIH
• DBlue 1 LakeAn FDA-permitted synthetic color additive in lake form. Blue 1 is a synthetic dye, and artificial colors have child-relevant concerns because some studies link them to hyperactivity in sensitive children.PubMed · NIH
• DYellow 6An FDA-permitted synthetic dye used for coloring foods. Yellow 6 is an artificial color with credible child-relevant concerns, including possible behavioral effects in sensitive children.PubMed · NIH
• DRed 40An FDA-permitted synthetic dye used widely in foods. Red 40 has child-relevant safety concerns because some studies and regulatory reviews have linked artificial colors to hyperactivity in sensitive children.PubMed · NIH
• DYellow 5An FDA-permitted synthetic dye used for coloring. Yellow 5 is an artificial color with child-relevant safety concerns, including possible behavioral effects in some sensitive children.PubMed · NIH
• DBlue 1An FDA-permitted synthetic dye. It has relatively limited child-specific safety concerns compared with some other dyes, but artificial colors are commonly rated higher because some children may be sensitive to them.PubMed · NIH
• BSodium CitrateA common food additive used to control acidity and improve texture. It is generally recognized as safe and has no established child-specific safety concern at typical food-use levels.PubMed · NIH
• BCarnauba WaxA plant-derived wax used as a glazing or coating agent. It is generally considered low risk in foods and has no established child-specific safety concern at normal intake levels.PubMed · NIH