Separating Fact from Fiction: Do Skittles Contain Titanium Dioxide in the UK?

October 21, 2025 •

3 min read

As of October 2025, official Skittles ingredient lists from the manufacturer's UK website and major retailers confirm that titanium dioxide (E171) is not used in the formulation available in Great Britain. This directly answers the question: Do Skittles contain titanium dioxide in the UK?

Quick Summary

UK Skittles are formulated without titanium dioxide (E171) due to adherence to European Union food standards for relevant markets and consumer preference, though the additive remains permitted in Great Britain. The US version was also reformulated to remove it by 2024 following similar concerns.

Key Points

UK Skittles are titanium dioxide-free: The version of Skittles sold in the UK does not contain titanium dioxide (E171), reflecting an adjusted recipe for the European market.
EU ban enforced in Northern Ireland: The EU banned titanium dioxide (E171) in food from August 2022, and this ban is enforced in Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Titanium dioxide still permitted in Great Britain: The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has reached a different conclusion than the EU and still considers E171 safe, meaning its use is permitted in Great Britain.
Manufacturer's global reformulation: Mars Wrigley, the maker of Skittles, has also removed titanium dioxide from its US formulation by late 2024, aligning with consumer demand for fewer synthetic additives.
Alternative colourings used: UK Skittles use alternative, approved colourings like calcium carbonate (E170), along with various fruit-based and other synthetic colours.
Read the label for other products: The regulatory difference means other products sold in Great Britain may still contain E171, so reading ingredients lists is the best way for consumers to stay informed.

Navigating Food Additives: The Case of Skittles and Titanium Dioxide

Concerns over food additives, particularly colourings, are a growing part of the modern nutrition diet discussion. When the European Union (EU) banned the food additive titanium dioxide (E171) in 2022, it prompted many consumers to question the composition of their favourite products across different regions. The iconic 'Taste the Rainbow' candy, Skittles, has been at the centre of this discussion, not least because its different regional markets have distinct recipes based on local regulations and company policy.

For consumers in the UK asking, 'Do Skittles contain titanium dioxide in the UK?', the answer is a clear no, but the reasons are complex. While the UK and EU now have separate regulatory stances on E171, manufacturer Mars Wrigley reformulated its product to omit the additive in both UK and EU formulations, aligning with European market rules and global consumer trends. This article delves into the ingredient differences, the regulatory landscape, and the underlying scientific debate surrounding this once-common food colouring.

The UK Formulation: A Closer Look at Skittles' Ingredients

Official product information for UK Skittles indicates that titanium dioxide is not used. Instead, alternatives like calcium carbonate (E170) provide the whitening effect. Other approved colourings are used for the various colours. Manufacturers often adapt recipes for different global markets due to varying food safety laws, which has led to differences between UK/EU and older US Skittles formulations. Mars Wrigley has also removed titanium dioxide from US Skittles by the end of 2024.

Ingredient Comparison: UK vs. Older US Skittles


Ingredient	UK Skittles (2025)	Older US Skittles (pre-2025)
Titanium Dioxide (E171)	Absent	Present
Colourants	E162 (Beetroot Red), E163 (Anthocyanins), E170 (Calcium Carbonate), E160a (Carotenes), E100 (Curcumin), E132 (Indigotine), E133 (Brilliant Blue FCF)	Red 40 Lake, Red 40, Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Blue 1, Blue 1 Lake
Glazing Agent	Carnauba Wax	Carnauba Wax
Acids	Citric Acid, Malic Acid	Citric Acid
Sugar & Syrup	Sugar, Glucose Syrup	Sugar, Corn Syrup

The Regulatory Divide: EU Ban and UK Position

The EU banned E171 in food products following a 2021 opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which raised concerns about potential genotoxicity. The ban took effect in August 2022 across EU member states.

Impact on Northern Ireland: Due to the Northern Ireland Protocol, the EU ban on E171 in food applies to Northern Ireland.

In Great Britain, the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) and its Committee on Toxicity (COT) reviewed the EFSA opinion but reached a different conclusion. An October 2024 statement by the COT indicated that a health risk from current UK dietary exposure to E171 was unlikely, based on their assessment of the genotoxicity evidence. Consequently, E171 remains permitted in food products in Great Britain.

Implications for Consumers and the Broader Nutrition Diet

This regulatory difference means that while Great Britain permits E171, the reformulation of Skittles means UK consumers benefit from its removal in this product. Consumers should check labels for other products sold in Great Britain that may still contain E171. Mars Wrigley's decision to remove the ingredient globally, including in the US, demonstrates the influence of both regulation and consumer demand on product formulation.

How to check for additives:
- Always read the label: Look for E171 or 'Titanium Dioxide' in the ingredients list.
- Check the country of origin: Product formulations can vary by market.
- Utilize online resources: Many retailers provide ingredient information online.

Conclusion

To reiterate, do Skittles contain titanium dioxide in the UK? No, neither in Great Britain nor Northern Ireland. This is primarily a result of the manufacturer's reformulation to align with the EU ban on E171, despite Great Britain having a different regulatory stance. This situation highlights how regulatory changes and consumer preferences shape the ingredients in the foods available to us.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The ban on titanium dioxide as a food additive applies to Northern Ireland because it follows EU regulations. In contrast, its use remains permitted in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales), where the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has a different safety assessment.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in 2021 that titanium dioxide could no longer be considered safe as a food additive due to concerns over potential genotoxicity (DNA damage), specifically from nanoparticles found within the additive.

Mars Wrigley, the manufacturer, appears to have globally aligned its product formulation for its European and North American markets in response to regulatory changes in the EU and consumer demand in the US. This simplifies production and distribution and reflects evolving consumer preferences.

Titanium dioxide is primarily used as a colourant, acting as a whitening and opacifying agent. In candies like Skittles, it was used to create the bright, uniform, and opaque white base for the coloured sugar shells.

The UK's Committee on Toxicity (COT), an independent scientific body advising the FSA, concluded in October 2024 that it is unlikely that UK dietary exposure to E171 would pose a health risk. This is based on a different interpretation of the available evidence compared to the EU's EFSA.

UK Skittles use calcium carbonate (E170) as a safe alternative to provide the white, opaque colour base for the candy shell. A variety of other approved food colourings are then used to produce the different 'rainbow' colours.

No. Following consumer pressure and legal action, Mars Wrigley announced it would remove titanium dioxide from its US Skittles, with the reformulation completed by late 2024. Therefore, current US Skittles should also be free of the additive.

According to the UK's FSA and its advisory committee (COT), current dietary exposure to E171 is not considered a health risk based on their assessment of the available evidence. However, some consumers may choose to avoid the additive based on the EFSA's differing opinion and growing public health concerns.