In order to comply with the new government push against artificial dyes in foods, M&Ms are going to look a little different going forward as two colors have been scrapped. Mars, the parent company behind the 85-year-old candy, launched a new brand of M&Ms in August that uses natural ingredients to dye all of the M&Ms. While red, orange, yellow and green will still be colors found in these new bags of M&Ms, blue and brown couldn’t yet be replicated with natural dyes. Mars has spent millions and hired more than 100 employees to revamp the classic candy to meet calls from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement to eliminate artificial dyes in foods. Despite all their efforts, blue and brown can’t yet be replicated efficiently. The culprit is replacing Blue 1, the artificial dye used to create the candy’s blue shell. Mars selected the algae-based ingredient spirulina as the best natural substitute for Blue 1. However, blue requires far more pigment to achieve the same color M&Ms fans have come to know and love over the years. Attempts to use that much pigment from spirulina can clog factory machines, sometimes leading to health and sanitary concerns. The company experimented with new colors like pink and purple, but ultimately decided they didn’t look right in the classic bag of M&Ms. Mars has said it hopes to solve the problem and bring blue and brown M&M colors back in the all-natural bags by 2028.
