Skittles : Unfit For Human Consumption?

Those who strive for healthier eating will be a little perturbed by news coming from California courts this week. A concerned citizen has launched a class action lawsuit against Mars Inc., makers of Skittles, accusing them of concealing information around an E number, E171.

Skittles, the iconic rainbow coloured confectionary, contain E171, aka Ti02 or titanium dioxide, a fact that Mars Inc. does not deny. Mars Inc. announced the phase-out of the substance in 2016, citing a move to more natural additives, yet they continue to use the toxic compound.

Misleading consumers is big business and usually results in a fine which a manufacturer is often happy to pay given the profits already derived. The annual sales for Skittles is around $150 million meaning the penalty for non-compliance is a drop in the proverbial profit bucket.

So what is titanium dioxide? The inorganic water-soluble solid is readily used as a food colourant. It is the most widely used pigment with two out of every three pigments produced worldwide containing the white substance. The common chemical is sold as a bulk commodity.

Titanium White is likely a colour in your art box. This is Ti02 in pigment form and the basis for paints, varnishes, inks, fibres and cosmetics. Because of its high refractive index it is useful for opacity in the making of sweeteners, ceramics, pills and even toothpaste.

The lawsuit claims ingesting the compound may lead to accumulation in the body and that concerns for damage to intestinal flora, bowel disease and genotoxicity, cell mutation which leads to cancer, cannot be ruled out. These toxins may even alter our DNA.

In 2021, following veto in France, titanium dioxide was found ‘no longer safe for use as a food additive’ by the European Food Safety Authority. The EU-wide ban comes into full effect in 2022. The FDA still lists the chemical E171 as safe, “meeting and surpassing requirements”.

In addition to failing to notify the consumer of the effects of ingesting titanium dioxide in Skittles, Mars Inc. is accused of deliberately obfuscating ingredients on its packaging, using illegible fonts and lacking the colour contrast necessary to comfortably read the wrapper.

The world will be watching Mars Inc.’s defence against the lawsuit, Thanes V Mars Inc., closely. If Skittles are found to be unsafe for human consumption due to the presence of titanium dioxide, the outcome will affect countless consumable products, provisions and pharma.

The more concerned citizens advocating for increased consumer rights to understand what we are eating the better. Penalties must be harsher to prevent these practises recurring.

Taste the rainbow? More like taste the toxins!