Why the Blue M&M Disappeared from Mars' Naturally Colored Candy Line

The push to eliminate artificial dyes from food products, championed by figures like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has led major manufacturers to reformulate their offerings. This effort has presented significant challenges, particularly for iconic candies like M&M's, impacting the availability of certain colors.

Kennedy, through his Make America Healthy Again movement, has targeted synthetic food dyes, arguing they pose health risks, including hyperactivity in children and potential links to cancer. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has long deemed these approved dyes safe for the general population, it acknowledges that some children may be sensitive to them. Kennedy's stance has spurred many companies to reconsider their recipes.

Mars, the maker of M&M's, pledged last year to create an all-natural version of its chocolate candies. However, a report from The Wall Street Journal revealed that their latest naturally dyed offering is missing the blue M&M, a once-iconic color. This change is part of a broader initiative by Mars to respond to consumer pressure and regulatory scrutiny.

Beyond M&M's, Kennedy has also voiced concerns about other popular snacks, including Doritos, Cheez-Its, Cap'n Crunch, and gummy bears, referring to their ingredients as "food-like substances" and some as originating from petroleum refineries.

Reformulating candies to use natural dyes has proven to be a complex and costly undertaking. Jesse Newman, a food reporter for The Wall Street Journal, investigated the process at a Mars factory in Topeka, Kansas.

The Challenge of Natural Dyes

Mars has been working for years to replace artificial dyes with natural alternatives. For the blue M&M, the company opted for spirulina, a dye derived from algae. Unlike the liquid artificial Blue 1 dye, spirulina is a powder, presenting significant processing challenges.

When mixed into the candy's syrup base, spirulina's protein content causes the mixture to thicken considerably. This thicker consistency leads to clogging in the piping systems and slows down the manufacturing process. Furthermore, the protein can build up on machinery, creating a food safety hazard if not properly managed.

Mars has invested millions of dollars in this reformulation effort, reportedly needing to retrofit approximately 300 types of machinery in their plants. The cost of producing naturally dyed candies at scale is a major factor in the process.

The Outcome: Limited Colors

Mars announced it would release a version of M&M's made with natural dyes this year. However, the company clarified that their artificially dyed M&M's are not being discontinued and will remain on shelves. The challenge with natural dyes, especially for blue and brown M&M's, proved too expensive to implement at their desired scale.

The company found that the amount of spirulina required for a vibrant blue or a stable brown color made the cost prohibitive. As a result, Mars launched its naturally dyed M&M's earlier this year featuring only red, orange, yellow, and green colors. These naturally dyed versions have a more muted appearance compared to their artificially colored counterparts.

While the shift to natural dyes addresses concerns about artificial ingredients, experts note that the fundamental nature of the candy remains the same. Consumers opting for the naturally dyed versions are still consuming a sugary treat, and the health impact is largely unchanged.