We checked the ingredient listings for 16 popular Halloween candies on October 16, 2026. Nine list Red 40 or Red 40 Lake, including Skittles, Starburst, Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish and Twizzlers. Six show no synthetic dyes: Reese's Miniatures, Hershey's Milk Chocolate, Kit Kat, Snickers, Milky Way and Tootsie Roll Midgees (sources in the table below).
Brach's Classic Candy Corn stood out for listing Red 3, a dye the FDA is removing from food (Ferrara, 2026; U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA], 2026b).
A lot of candy comes into homes this time of year. If your family is handing out or receiving candy, here is what the labels say and where the rules stand.
Which Halloween Candy Has Red 40?
We used each maker's own product page, except for M&M's: we couldn't find ingredient text on the M&M's site, so that row comes from a Target retailer listing (Target, 2026). Dye names are copied exactly as written. For more on Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, see 10 Harmful Food Additives Hiding in Your Pantry.
Ingredients checked October 16, 2026. Recipes change, so always check the label on the bag you buy.
| Candy | Synthetic dyes listed (as written) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Skittles Original | Red 40 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, Yellow 6, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1 | Maker (Mars, 2026e) |
| M&M's Milk Chocolate | Blue 1 Lake, Yellow 6, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Yellow 6 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Blue 2 | Retailer listing (Target, 2026) |
| Starburst Original | Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1 | Maker (Mars, 2026g) |
| Sour Patch Kids Original | YELLOW 6, RED 40, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1 | Maker (Mondelēz International, 2026a) |
| Swedish Fish | RED 40 | Maker (Mondelēz International, 2026b) |
| Twizzlers Strawberry Twists | Red 40 Lake | Maker (The Hershey Company, 2026f) |
| Brach's Classic Candy Corn | Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Red 3 | Maker (Ferrara, 2026) |
| Hot Tamales Fierce Cinnamon | RED #40, YELLOW #5 (TARTRAZINE), YELLOW #6, BLUE #1 | Maker (Just Born, 2026) |
| Jolly Rancher Original Flavors | Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Yellow 6 | Maker (The Hershey Company, 2026c) |
| Dum Dums Original Mix | Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1 | Maker (Spangler Candy, 2026) |
| Reese's Miniatures | None listed | Maker (The Hershey Company, 2026e) |
| Hershey's Milk Chocolate Snack Size | None listed | Maker (The Hershey Company, 2026a) |
| Kit Kat Snack Size | None listed | Maker (The Hershey Company, 2026d) |
| Snickers Fun Size | None listed | Maker (Mars, 2026f) |
| Milky Way Fun Size | None listed | Maker (Mars, 2026b) |
| Tootsie Roll Midgees | None listed | Maker (Tootsie Roll, 2026) |
The Skittles page says the brand is updating its packaging and that older packs with former formulas may still be on shelves (Mars, 2026e). Some Hershey product pages, including Jolly Rancher's, tell shoppers to "always refer to each package for current ingredients" (The Hershey Company, 2026c).
Halloween Candy With No Synthetic Dyes Listed
The six candies marked "None listed" are the simplest swap our check turned up.
For fruity candy, Mars released versions of Skittles Original, Starburst Original Fruit Chews, Extra Gum spearmint and M&M's Milk Chocolate made without FD&C colors, sold on Amazon starting August 2026 (Mars, 2026a).
- Skittles: a 27.5 oz bag sold only on Amazon, colored with beet juice concentrate, beta-carotene, calcium carbonate, grape juice concentrate, spirulina extract and turmeric oleoresin (Mars, 2026d).
- M&M's: an 18 oz pouch sold only on Amazon, colored with beet juice concentrate, beta-apo-8'-carotenal, beta-carotene, calcium carbonate, spirulina extract and turmeric oleoresin (Mars, 2026c). It uses a red, orange, green and yellow blend, without blue and brown (Mars, 2026a).
Mars says the original versions "will still be available in store and online" (Mars, 2025).
How to Spot Food Dyes on a Candy Label
- Short names are allowed. The FDA requires the label to name any certified color additive, using the full name (FD&C Blue No. 1) or the short name (Blue 1) (FDA, 2023).
- Watch for "Lake." Labels may leave out "FD&C" and "No.", but a lake must carry the word "Lake," as in "Blue 1 Lake" (Code of Federal Regulations, 2026).
- "Color added" alone doesn't say which kind. Colors exempt from certification, other than carmine/cochineal, may be listed together as "artificial colors," "color added" or similar, without naming each one (FDA, 2023). M&M's products made without FD&C colors list "COLORS ADDED" instead of names like Blue 1, and may say "No FD&C Colors" (Mars, 2026c).
What the Research Says
A 2007 randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in The Lancet included 297 children: 153 three-year-olds and 144 eight- and nine-year-olds. The test drinks contained one of two artificial color mixes plus sodium benzoate, a preservative covered in our Food Preservatives to Avoid: Safe vs Harmful Guide, or a placebo (McCann et al., 2007). The authors concluded that artificial colors or a sodium benzoate preservative, or both, increased hyperactivity in children of both ages in the general population (McCann et al., 2007). Because the drinks combined dyes with a preservative, the study can't separate the dyes' effect from the preservative's.
An April 2021 report from California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found that synthetic food dyes can result in hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral problems in some children (California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment [OEHHA], 2021b). The report found that some children are likely to be more affected than others (OEHHA, 2021a).
The FDA says most children have no adverse effects from color additives, but some evidence suggests certain children may be sensitive to them (FDA, 2023). It suggests that parents who want to limit color additives check ingredient lists and discuss any concerns with the family physician (FDA, 2023). If you have questions about your child, your pediatrician is the right person to ask. For a closer look at this research, see Food Additives That Can Trigger ADHD Symptoms in Children.
Where FDA Food Dye Rules Stand in 2026
Red No. 3 is being removed by FDA order. The FDA has issued orders revoking its authorization in food and ingested drugs, with a food deadline of January 15, 2027 (FDA, 2026b). The FDA acted under the Delaney Clause, based on cancer in male rats given high levels through a hormonal mechanism, and says studies in other animals or in humans did not show the same effect (FDA, 2026b).
The other petroleum-based dyes face a voluntary phase-out. On April 22, 2025, HHS and the FDA announced plans to work with industry to eliminate the six remaining synthetic dyes by the end of 2026 (FDA, 2025b). That phase-out is voluntary (FDA, 2025a).
Orange B and Citrus Red No. 2. On July 22, 2026, the FDA issued a final order revoking Orange B's use in food and proposed revoking Citrus Red No. 2, which is authorized for coloring the skins of mature oranges (FDA, 2026a).
What candy makers have said:
- Mars announced in July 2025 that in 2026 it would offer U.S. options made without FD&C colors for M&M's Chocolate, Skittles Original, Extra Gum Spearmint and Starburst Original (Mars, 2025).
- Hershey says it is removing FD&C certified colors from its U.S. products starting in 2027, including work on natural-source colors for Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers and Reese's Pieces (The Hershey Company, 2026b).
- Mondelēz (Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish) says it is working to move U.S. products that may contain synthetic colors to non-synthetic alternatives, with no date given (Mondelēz International, n.d.).
- Ferrara (Brach's), Just Born (Hot Tamales), Spangler (Dum Dums) and Tootsie Roll do not appear on the FDA pledge tracker as of September 15, 2026 (FDA, 2026c).
Check the Bag You Buy
Download the NutraDetective app to scan a candy bag and see its dyes.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. In our October 16, 2026 check, Skittles, M&M's (Target retailer listing), Starburst, Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish, Twizzlers, Hot Tamales, Jolly Rancher and Dum Dums listed Red 40 or Red 40 Lake.
A. Maker listings for Reese's Miniatures, Hershey's Milk Chocolate, Kit Kat, Snickers, Milky Way and Tootsie Roll Midgees show no synthetic dyes. Mars also sells Skittles and M&M's made without FD&C colors on Amazon.
A. Brach's Classic Candy Corn lists Red 3. The FDA's food deadline for Red No. 3 is January 15, 2027, and products made before then may still be sold.
A. Not all of them. Red No. 3 and Orange B are being removed by FDA order, but the phase-out of the six remaining petroleum-based dyes is voluntary.
A. Some studies suggest a link in some children. The FDA says most children have no adverse effects, but certain children may be sensitive. Talk with your pediatrician if you have concerns.
A. FDA's substance inventory lists "Allura Red AC" and "Allura Red" as other names for FD&C Red No. 40. Labels may also say "Red 40" or, for the lake form, "Red 40 Lake."
A. Mars sells U.S. versions of some candies made without FD&C colors. Hershey says it is removing FD&C certified colors from its U.S. products starting in 2027. Mondelēz says it is moving U.S. products to non-synthetic colors but has given no date.
References
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. (2021a). Health effects assessment: Potential neurobehavioral effects of synthetic food dyes in children. https://oehha.ca.gov/sites/default/files/media/downloads/risk-assessment/report/healthefftsassess041621.pdf
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. (2021b, April 16). Report links synthetic food dyes to hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral effects in children. https://oehha.ca.gov/risk-assessment/press-release/report-links-synthetic-food-dyes-hyperactivity-and-other-neurobehavioral-effects-children
Code of Federal Regulations. (2026). Title 21, Section 101.22: Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-101/subpart-B/section-101.22
Ferrara. (2026). Classic candy corn. Brach's. https://www.brachs.com/products/candy-corn
Just Born. (2026). Fierce cinnamon. Hot Tamales. https://www.hottamales.com/products/fierce-cinnamon/
Mars. (2025, July 24). Mars Wrigley U.S. extends consumer choice: Introducing product options made without FD&C colors next year. https://www.mars.com/news-and-stories/articles/mars-wrigley-us-extends-consumer-choice
Mars. (2026a, August 13). Mars Snacking U.S. releases new product options made without FD&C colors. https://www.mars.com/news-and-stories/press-releases-statements/mars-snacking-us-releases-new-product-options-made
Mars. (2026b). MILKY WAY milk chocolate fun size candy bars, 10.65 oz bag. Milky Way. https://www.milkywaybar.com/products/chocolate/milky-way-milk-chocolate-fun-size-candy-bars-1065-oz-bag-minisfun-size
Mars. (2026c). Our colors. M&M'S. https://www.mms.com/en-us/our-colors
Mars. (2026d). Our colors. Skittles. https://www.skittles.com/our-colors
Mars. (2026e). SKITTLES Original fruity candy single pack, 2.17 oz. Skittles. https://www.skittles.com/products/skittles-original-fruity-candy-single-pack-217-oz-skittles-chewy
Mars. (2026f). SNICKERS milk chocolate fun size bars, 3.4 oz (6 count). Snickers. https://www.snickers.com/products/chocolate/snickers-milk-chocolate-fun-size-bars-34-oz-6-count-minisfun-size
Mars. (2026g). STARBURST Original fruit chews candy, single, 2.07 oz. Starburst. https://www.starburst.com/products/candy/starburst-original-fruit-chews-candy-single-207-oz-chews
McCann, D., Barrett, A., Cooper, A., Crumpler, D., Dalen, L., Grimshaw, K., Kitchin, E., Lok, K., Porteous, L., Prince, E., Sonuga-Barke, E., Warner, J. O., & Stevenson, J. (2007). Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet, 370(9598), 1560-1567. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17825405/
Mondelēz International. (n.d.). Synthetic colors statement. https://www.mondelezinternational.com/united-states/synthetic-colors-statement/
Mondelēz International. (2026a). SOUR PATCH KIDS Original soft & chewy candy, 24 snack packs. Snackworks. https://www.snackworks.com/products/sour-patch-kids-original-soft-chewy-candy-24-snack-packs/index.html
Mondelēz International. (2026b). SWEDISH FISH soft & chewy gummy candy, 3.6 oz. Snackworks. https://www.snackworks.com/products/swedish-fish-soft-chewy-gummy-candy-36-oz/
Spangler Candy. (2026). Bulk Dum Dums Original Mix lollipops, 2,300 count. https://spanglercandy.com/products/dum-dums-original-mix-30-lb-bulk
Target. (2026). M&M's single milk chocolate candy, 1.69 oz [Retailer listing]. https://www.target.com/p/m-38-m-39-s-milk-single-1-69oz/-/A-79722635
The Hershey Company. (2026a). HERSHEY'S milk chocolate snack size candy bars, 10.35 oz bag. Hersheyland. https://www.hersheyland.com/products/hersheys-milk-chocolate-snack-size-candy-bars-10-35-oz-bag.html
The Hershey Company. (2026b, July 8). How and why Hershey is transitioning U.S. products to colors from natural sources. https://www.thehersheycompany.com/en_us/home/newsroom/blog/how-and-why-hershey-is-switching-to-food-colors-from-natural-sources.html
The Hershey Company. (2026c). JOLLY RANCHER Original flavors hard candy, 7 oz bag. Hersheyland. https://www.hersheyland.com/products/jolly-rancher-original-flavors-hard-candy-7-oz-bag.html
The Hershey Company. (2026d). KIT KAT milk chocolate snack size candy bars, 3.92 oz, 8 pack. Hersheyland. https://www.hersheyland.com/products/kit-kat-milk-chocolate-snack-size-candy-bars-3-92-oz-8-pack.html
The Hershey Company. (2026e). REESE'S Miniatures milk chocolate peanut butter cups, 10.5 oz bag. Hersheyland. https://www.hersheyland.com/products/reeses-miniatures-milk-chocolate-peanut-butter-cups-10-5-oz-bag.html
The Hershey Company. (2026f). TWIZZLERS twists strawberry flavored candy, 2.5 oz bag. Hersheyland. https://www.hersheyland.com/products/twizzlers-twists-strawberry-flavored-candy-2-5-oz-bag.html
Tootsie Roll. (2026). Tootsie Roll Midgees (15 oz. bag). https://shop.tootsie.com/products/tootsie-roll-midgees-15-oz-bag
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). FD&C Red No. 40. Substances Added to Food inventory. https://www.hfpappexternal.fda.gov/scripts/fdcc/index.cfm?set=FoodSubstances&id=FDCREDNO40
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Color additives questions and answers for consumers. https://www.fda.gov/food/color-additives-information-consumers/color-additives-questions-and-answers-consumers
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025a, July 14). FDA approves gardenia (genipin) blue color additive while encouraging faster phase-out of FD&C Red No. 3. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-gardenia-genipin-blue-color-additive-while-encouraging-faster-phase-out-fdc-red-no-3
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025b, April 22). HHS, FDA to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in nation's food supply. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/hhs-fda-phase-out-petroleum-based-synthetic-dyes-nations-food-supply
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2026a, July 22). FDA takes further steps to remove outdated authorizations for color additives in food. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-further-steps-remove-outdated-authorizations-color-additives-food
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2026b). FD&C Red No. 3. https://www.fda.gov/industry/color-additives/fdc-red-no-3
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2026c). Tracking food industry pledges to remove petroleum based food dyes. https://www.fda.gov/food/color-additives-information-consumers/tracking-food-industry-pledges-remove-petroleum-based-food-dyes