Skittles Undergoing Major Ingredients Change

Whenever I am in the mood for a fruity candy, I have to have my Skittles.

Even though the spherical(ish) candies have been available in the United States for nearly fifty years, they were originally made in the United Kingdom. They were introduced by Jack Candies in the United Kingdom in 1971. However, by 1979, the candies were found in most parts of the United States.

Skittles are named for their resemblance to playing pieces in the game by the same name.

Skittles' Major Ingredients Change

According to Fox News, Mars Wrigley, the makers of Skittles, have announced that fruity candy will no longer contain titanium dioxide.

The article explains that the additive is generally used to make food look whiter and opaque.

Clearly, no one has time to be eating titanium anything, but what are the concerns about using titanium dioxide in candy? There are concerns that the additive may cause cellular or DNA damage.

Mars Wrigley reportedly told Fox News:

Our commitment to quality is what has enabled Mars to be enjoyed by consumers for over a century, and nothing is more important than the safety of our products

Skittles are not the only packaged foods that contain titanium dioxide. The article explains that there are over 4,300 candies produced in the United States that contain the chemical.

The additive has been completely banned in the European Union since 2022.

Will the Ingredients Change Make Skittles Taste Different?

According to Healthline, Titanium Dioxide does not have a taste, so Skittles should taste no different whether they contain the chemical or not.

LOOK: Food history from the year you were born

From product innovations to major recalls, Stacker researched what happened in food history every year since 1921, according to news and government sources.

Gallery Credit: Joni Sweet

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

Gallery Credit: Rachel Cavanaugh

Categories: Offbeat