Skittles Original — DUMP

Munch or Dump rates Skittles Original by Skittles DUMP — score 17/90.

Sugar and corn syrup wrapped in hydrogenated oil and a full rainbow of artificial dyes. There is nothing here but engineered sweetness and color.

Why this verdict

• Hydrogenated palm kernel oil — a hydrogenated fat that has no place in food
• Sugar and corn syrup are the top two ingredients — basically pure refined sugar
• Stacked artificial dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5/6, Blue 1/2) plus titanium dioxide
• Modified corn starch and tapioca dextrin — industrial texturizers
• Zero real fruit; the flavor is artificial

Ingredients (15)

• Sugar (moderate) — Added for sweetness, can contribute to calorie content.
• Corn Syrup (caution) — Added sugar baked into the crust.
• hydrogenated palm kernel oil (avoid) — Industrial hard fat in the peanut butter chips — the cheap stand-in for cocoa butter.
• citric acid (safe) — Acidity and tartness adjuster.
• Tapioca dextrin (moderate) — Starch-derived coating aid.
• Modified Corn Starch (moderate) — Thickener/stabilizer that gives the sauce body.
• Natural and Artificial Flavor (moderate) — Added flavor system, including artificial flavor.
• Red 40 (and Lake) (concerning) — Petroleum-derived dye linked to hyperactivity in children; purely cosmetic.
• Titanium dioxide (avoid) — Whitening color agent banned as a food additive in the EU.
• Yellow 5 (and Lake) (concerning) — Artificial dye (tartrazine) tied to hyperactivity and allergic reactions.
• Yellow 6 (and Lake) (concerning) — Petroleum-based dye with no nutritional purpose.
• Blue 1 (and Lake) (concerning) — Synthetic color added purely for appearance.
• BLUE 2 LAKE (concerning) — Indigotine; synthetic dye with no nutritional purpose, purely cosmetic.
• sodium citrate (moderate) — Emulsifying salt in the process cheese.
• carnauba wax (safe) — Plant wax used to keep the bears from sticking.