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Lawsuit claims Skittles are unsafe because of toxic ingredient

Jul 19, 2022

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The maker of Skittles, the United States No. 1 non-chocolate candy, is facing a major lawsuit over accusations that it is using a toxic ingredient, Business Insider said. The chemical is a key ingredient in Mars Inc.’s artificial coloring for its chewy, fruity product.

The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California, claims that Mars is putting its customers’ health at risk by using titanium dioxide, which, Business Insider noted, the company had vowed in 2016 to remove over a five-year period.

According to Live Science, the compound, which is abundant in the earth’s crust, is also used for paints, sunscreen, medicine, cosmetics, toothpaste, frosting, gum and marshmallows. However, it is indigestible for humans and may cause intestinal problems, as well as damage to chromosomes, inflammation and DNA alterations.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says titanium dioxide is generally safe to use in food in small amounts. The agency’s website says the compound “may be safely used for coloring foods generally” but requires that the “quantity of titanium dioxide does not exceed 1 percent by weight of the food.”

Europe, however, is not as lenient. France fully banned titanium dioxide in all foods in 2020, Business Insider said. And next month, a similar ban will go into effect across the European Union.

The EU’s decision followed research from the European Food Safety Authority that did not offer a firm conclusion on the toxicity and dangers of the compound. Still, it did declare that it could no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.

“Although the evidence for general toxic effects was not conclusive, on the basis of the new data and strengthened methods our scientists could not rule out a concern for genotoxicity and consequently they could not establish a safe level for daily intake of TiO2 as a food additive,” the agency said.

MAHMOUD BENNETT: THE MAKER OF SKITTLES IS FACING LEGAL ACTION OVER A POTENTIALLY TOXIC COMPOUND FOUND IN THEIR CANDY’S BRIGHT COLORING

IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT A GROUP OF CONSUMERS IN CALIFORNIA CLAIM SKITTLES ARE UNSAFE BECAUSE OF A COMMONLY USED INGREDIENT KNOWN AS TITANIUM DIOXIDE

IT’S THE EIGHTH MOST ABUNDANT COMPOUND IN THE EARTH’S CRUST. YOU CAN FIND IT IN PAINT, COSMETICS AND SUNSCREEN

IT’S ALSO AN ADDITIVE USED TO ENHANCE THE COLORING AND SHELF LIFE OF THOUSANDS OF FOOD PRODUCTS – EVERYTHING FROM COFFEE CREAMER TO CERTAIN BRANDS OF DRESSINGS, AND SUPPLEMENTS

THE FDA RECOGNIZES TITANIUM DIOXIDE AS GENERALLY SAFE BUT REGULATIONS LIMIT THE AMOUNT THAT CAN BE USED IN FOOD TO LESS THAN 1% OF AN ITEM’S WEIGHT

REGARDLESS – IT’LL BE OFF GROCERY STORE SHELVES THIS YEAR IN EUROPE.

THE EUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY DID RESEARCH ON THE COMPOUND. AND WHILE THE AGENCY DID NOT COME TO A FIRM CONCLUSION ON THE TOXICITY OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE THEY ALSO COULD NOT ESTABLISH A SAFE LEVEL FOR DAILY INTAKE OR RULE OUT CONCERNS IT DAMAGES DNA

THE LAWSUIT AGAINST SKITTLES CITES EUROPE’S MOVE ARGUING IT’S QUOTE UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION –

SKITTLES SOLD AN ESTIMATED 185 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PRODUCT IN 2017 – MAKING IT THE NATIONS TOP NON-CHOCOLATE CANDY