Does Skittles Have Red 40?
Yes. Skittles Original sold in the United States is colored with Red 40 and three other artificial dyes. It is one of the most-searched candies on our Red 40 candy list, and the U.S. label is clear.
The dyes on the U.S. Skittles label
- Red 40 (Allura Red AC)
- Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)
- Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow)
- Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF)
Four numbered dyes produce the rainbow. If your household screens for any one of them, the original U.S. Skittles is out.
The 2026 wrinkle: a dye-free version exists — somewhere
On August 13, 2026, Mars released versions of Skittles Original (along with Starburst, Extra Gum and M&M's) made without FD&C colors, sold on Amazon. Two things matter for a shopper:
- Mars states the original dyed versions remain available alongside the new ones.
- So the bag on the grocery shelf is still the dyed formula unless you have specifically sought out the new SKU.
A dye-free version existing is real progress. It does not change what is in the bag already in your pantry or at your checkout lane. The label in front of you is still the only reliable check.
What to buy instead
For candy that has never used the dyes — not a reformulation, not a special edition — look for colors named as foods on the label: fruit and vegetable extracts, spirulina, turmeric.
That's the only recipe we've ever made. USA Gummies are gummy bears colored with fruit and vegetable extracts — no Red 40, no Yellow 5 or 6, no Blue 1, no high-fructose corn syrup. Ten ingredients, made in the U.S.A.
The short answer
- U.S. Skittles Original: Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1 — yes, it has Red 40.
- A dye-free Skittles version launched on Amazon in August 2026; the original dyed version is still sold next to it.
- When it matters, read the bag in your hand — not the headline.
