Candies
Skittles
2.17 oz
Score
- Not permitted in some countries
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains artificial flavors
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 7
Skittles scores 7 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
The Receipt
Skittles
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Red 40 minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 7.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 73.2 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Saturated fat 2.5 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 250 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
100 − 93.5 = 6.5 → 7
Can’t score above 25. Contains titanium dioxide, which is banned in food in the EU. [12]
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][13][12][14][15][16][17][18][19]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [20]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 250 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 2.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 56 g |
| Sugars | 73.2 g |
| Added sugars | 45 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0.1 g |
Serving: 1 pack (62 g)
Ingredients
- MADE OF: SUGAR (high concern)
- CORN SYRUP (high concern)
- HYDROGENATED PALM KERNEL OIL
- CITRIC ACID
- TAPIOCA DEXTRIN
- MODIFIED CORN STARCH
- NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS
- COLORS (RED 40 LAKE, YELLOW 5 LAKE, BLUE 2 LAKE, YELLOW 6 LAKE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, BLUE 1 LAKE, YELLOW 6, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1) (not recognized)
- SODIUM CITRATE
- CARNAUBA WAX
Label text, as published
MADE OF: SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, HYDROGENATED PALM KERNEL OIL, CITRIC ACID, TAPIOCA DEXTRIN, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, COLORS (RED 40 LAKE, YELLOW 5 LAKE, BLUE 2 LAKE, YELLOW 6 LAKE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, BLUE 1 LAKE, YELLOW 6, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1), SODIUM CITRATE, CARNAUBA WAX.
Allergens and diets
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More candies on GoodSwap
-
Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar Unreal · 15 g High in saturated fatContains added sugarsNo additivesSeed-oil free Score 27 out of 100 Poor -
Ice Breakers Cool Mint Hershey · 42 gr Ultra-processedContains sugar alcohols Score 72 out of 100 Good -
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Trader Joe's · 16 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 2 out of 100 Bad -
Gummy Clusters Nerds · 8 oz Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in sugar Score 8 out of 100 Bad -
Peanut Butter Cups Reese's · 2.8 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 4 out of 100 Bad -
Dark Belgian Chocolate Bouchard · 30 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 38 out of 100 Poor
More from Skittles
Sources
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of 16 December 2008 on food additives
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
legislation.gov.uk
-
“Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population.”
doi.org
-
Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes
“FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2—by the end of 2027.”
fda.gov
-
California AB 2316 (2024), Pupil nutrition: substances: prohibition
“beginning December 31, 2027, would prohibit a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
-
List of Select Chemicals in the Food Supply Under FDA Review
“The table below includes select food ingredients (including food and color additives), food contact substances, and contaminants under FDA review as of May 12, 2026 .”
fda.gov
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“titanium dioxide (E 171) can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
21 CFR 74.705 FD&C Yellow No. 5
“shall specifically declare the presence of FD&C Yellow No. 5 by listing the color additive as FD&C Yellow No. 5 among the list of ingredients.”
ecfr.gov
-
Titanium dioxide: E171 no longer considered safe when used as a food additive
“the Panel concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Considering the very low oral absorption of INS 171, and in the absence of any identifiable hazard associated with INS 171 in the diet, the Committee reaffirmed the ADI “not specified” established at the Thirteenth meeting.”
who.int
-
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a food additive: Current science report
“In summary, the Food Directorate's position is that there is no conclusive scientific evidence that the food additive TiO2 is a concern for human health.”
canada.ca
-
Statement on the safety of Titanium Dioxide (E171) as a Food Additive (COT/2024/05)
“The Committee concludes that it is unlikely that there would be a risk to health from exposures of E171 TiO2 from the diet in any of the age groups or scenarios assessed.”
cot.food.gov.uk
-
Titanium Dioxide as a Color Additive in Foods
“Other international regulatory bodies including the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), Health Canada, and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) have not agreed with EFSA’s assessment.”
fda.gov
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food (89 FR 55040)
“This action is being taken because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the continued use of BVO in food.”
federalregister.gov
-
“This order is effective January 15, 2027, except for amendatory instruction 4, which is effective January 18, 2028.”
federalregister.gov
-
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products
“cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
HHS, FDA to Phase Out Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes in Nation’s Food Supply (press release)
“Initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings—Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B—within the coming months.”
fda.gov
-
“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org