Protecting families from contaminated food and water
All fields are required
Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Food Policy,Food Safety,Our Blog on June 24, 2026
Blue and brown M&M’s have been a staple part of the M&M’s candy packs for as long as I can remember. From road trips to movie nights, chocolate, peanut, and fun varieties have been a staple in our family. (The peanut is by far my favorite)
These favorites will likely look a bit different soon.
Mars, the candy giant who makes these tasty treats that melts in your mouth and not in your hands has decided to launch new packages without those two colors as early as August.
Why?
Synthetic dyes.
Despite working to find a natural alternative that holds up to the manufacturing process, those two colors have not been successful. So, for now, they will be removed. But not forgotten.
Why are the blue and brown M&M’s being pulled? Why are the blue and brown colors so hard to make with alternative dyes? What is the problem with these dyes?
Here’s what we know so far about the move to remove blue and brown M&M’s!
On the company’s 85th anniversary, the Mars company has decided to launch the new color packs. Ones without blue and brown M&M’s inside. But this isn’t the first time the company has considered going “artificial dye-free.”
In 2016, the Mars company originally announced a plan to remove artificial dyes from their products. However, in response to customer indifference to the idea, the plan was tabled. This was before synthetic dyes had made headlines.
After recent pressure from the United States Foods and Drug Administration (FDA) to remove artificial dyes from the food supply, Mars announced last year that they would be looking for natural dye options.
Certain dyes, like petroleum-based Red Dye no. 3, Citrus Red No. 2, and Orange B, along with brominated vegetable oil (BVO) have been banned by the FDA in 2025. The Delaney Clause was claimed due to numerous long-term animal studies finding the chemical was linked to cancer development in rats.
The agency is also pushing food manufacturers to phase out Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3.
Other products in the Mars lineup, including Extra, Skittles, and Starburst are getting similar makeovers.
So why the blue and brown M&M’s and not other colors?
As it turns out, those two hold outs have been the hardest to replace. For many reasons.
There are several reasons the blue and brown M&M’s have caused Mars so much trouble.
Color is important to the brand. Getting the color right with alternative natural dyes has been difficult for some colors. Some of these new materials have caused serious issues in their equipment. Not to mention the difference in cost between the existing ingredients and the natural alternatives.
Beets and turmeric have been successful alternatives to creating red and yellow. However, blue has not been so easy. Natural dyes have not been able to produce the same vibrant hue. It leaves the candy looking muddy and ruddy. Who wants a ruddy looking blue candy?
Spirulina extract has been the primary ingredient to create the blue and brown M&M’s color. However, the material is much thicker than the existing dyes, which has created a clogging issue in spray nozzles and causes film to build up in the manufacturing equipment. A problem that causes a potential safety and health hazard.
The spirulina extract needed for blue and brown M&M’s not only causes equipment issues, it is more costly. According to Mars, it is prohibitively expensive.
Other natural dyes, while more expensive than their synthetic alternatives, are much more feasible.
For example, turmeric costs around $10 per pound wholesale. Spirulina, as a raw supplement can cost up to $20 a pound. The concentrated version used for food dyes can be over $100 per pound.
That is a significant difference!
To ease the financial costs and keep product prices stable, Mars considered creating a three-color mix with red, orange, and yellow. However, the color scheme didn’t pass muster with the executives. According to the company, “the sunset vibes were too strong.”
So, it looks like the pack will still be limited. However, it will only be lacking blue and brown M&M’s.
Experts say that the average person in the United States consumes significantly more food dye than what was consumed in 1955.
There is dye in foods that you expect, like cereals, candy, and frostings. But there is also dyes in things that you would not expect. Like packaged salmon or bread.
These dyes interact with our DNA. Genes that produce dopamine (the feel-good brain chemical responsible for focus and impulse control). Also, genes that produce a histamine reaction (makes you feel alert, but may also cause allergy symptoms).
Certain people, mostly children and teens, may experience worsened ADHD, increased oppositional defiant disorder, and marked anxiety.
Some studies have shown links to cancer in rodents.
This is why there has been a systematic push to remove these dyes from our food supply. Which appears to be finally coming.
Fortunately, it seems the removal of blue and brown M&M’s is only temporary. Mars continues to work on finding effective substitutes for this dye. While the packages produced after August 2026 will not have them, the company aims to produce packages with all of the traditional colors by 2028.
I look forward to trying them!
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “Blue and Brown M&M’s Will Soon Be Missing from the Colorful Candy Packages,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)