M&Ms launches dye-free version in August without blue and brown colors
Mars is introducing a new line of M&Ms made without artificial dyes, set to launch in August to coincide with the candy's 85th anniversary. The naturally colored candies will feature red, orange, yellow, and green, but will be missing blue and brown colors. The company has spent millions developing natural alternatives like beetroot and turmeric to replace artificial dyes, but creating blue and brown proved too difficult and expensive. Spirulina algae, the proposed blue replacement, costs over 100 dollars per pound compared to turmeric at 9 to 11 dollars per pound. The shift comes amid pressure from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again movement, which is pushing food manufacturers to eliminate synthetic dyes. Mars originally pledged to remove artificial colors in 2016 but reversed course, citing limited consumer interest. The new naturally dyed version will initially sell exclusively on Amazon, while traditional M&Ms remain on shelves.
Key facts
- Mars will launch dye-free M&Ms in August 2026 with red, orange, yellow, and green colors only
- Blue and brown colors will be absent from the initial launch due to cost and technical difficulties
- Spirulina algae, the proposed blue replacement, costs over $100 per pound versus turmeric at $9-11 per pound
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again movement are driving pressure on food manufacturers to remove synthetic dyes
- Mars originally pledged to remove artificial colors in 2016 but reversed the decision, citing limited consumer demand at the time
- The new naturally dyed M&Ms will initially be sold exclusively on Amazon
- Mars hopes to have all six colors made with natural dyes by 2028
How different outlets framed it
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning sources frame this as a victory for the Make America Healthy Again movement and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., celebrating the shift toward natural ingredients as part of broader government efforts to eliminate petroleum-based dyes. They emphasize concerns about health risks from artificial dyes and cite regulatory pressure from the Trump administration and state-level investigations.
Limits of this briefing
Most reporting relies on Wall Street Journal reporting; some sources frame this as either a success for health advocates or a government overreach depending on political perspective. The long-term consumer reception and viability of the dye-free version remain uncertain.
Sources
- The Daily Beast: MAHA Movement Forces M&M's to Drop Two Classic Colors Left
- Fox Business: M&M's set August launch for dye-free candies, with 2 colors absent Right
- Newsweek: M&Ms scrap two colors in new MAHA-ified packs—Here's why Centre
- Breitbart: MAHA: M&M's Ditches Blue, Brown Candies for Upgraded Natural Version Right
- KGW (NBC affiliate): M&M's maker scrapping two iconic colors amid push to remove artificial dyes, reports say Centre