Mars Releases New M&Ms With Natural Dyes

The new version excludes blue and brown colors as the company shifts away from synthetic dyes.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Nutrition

Isometric editorial illustration of an industrial stainless steel tumbling drum for confectionery production. — Mars has modified its production infrastructure in Topeka, Kansas, to accommodate natural dyes in its M&Ms candy line. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In 2026, Mars released a naturally dyed version of M&Ms that excludes blue and brown colors, following a commitment made by the company in 2025. The product line adjustment arrives as food manufacturers face increasing pressure to eliminate synthetic dyes from consumer products.

Why it matters

The change reflects mounting public and political pressure, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again movement, to remove synthetic food dyes from the national diet. This shift highlights the technical hurdles companies face when replacing long-standing artificial coloring methods.

Mars retrofitted 300 pieces of factory machinery to adapt to natural colorants, which differ significantly from the nine FDA-approved synthetic dyes traditionally used in the industry. It remains unknown if the company will successfully overcome production clogging issues to reintroduce blue and brown varieties.

The players

Mars

A global food and confectionery manufacturer known for producing chocolates and snacks.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The Health and Human Services Secretary who has advocated for the removal of synthetic dyes from food.

The details

M&Ms are produced by tumbling chocolate centers in industrial pans while spraying them with dye. The transition to natural colors like those derived from spirulina presents a mechanical challenge because protein-based natural dyes cause clogs and residue buildup in standard spray equipment. Mars had to modify its Topeka, Kansas, production infrastructure to accommodate these new, more sensitive natural dye mixtures.

In 2025, Mars committed to creating an all-natural version of M&Ms.
Throughout 2026, the company launched a naturally dyed version of the candy.
In the summer of 2026, reports emerged regarding the missing blue colors.

Health Landscape

This transition marks a departure from the reliance on nine FDA-approved synthetic dyes that have characterized the confectionary industry for decades. The move aligns with the broader food reform priorities of the Make America Healthy Again movement.

Readers seeking to avoid synthetic dyes in their snacks can look for these updated M&Ms, which now use natural alternatives. If you have concerns about specific dyes and childhood hyperactivity, these products may be worth discussing with your pediatrician or primary care doctor.

The takeaway

The move away from synthetic dyes highlights the complex engineering required to reform processed foods. When choosing snacks, check the ingredient list for natural color sources like spirulina if you are looking to avoid artificial additives.