M&M's Change and What Two Favorite Colors Will Be Missing

A New Look Is Coming to the Candy Aisle

M&M’s fans may notice something different on store shelves later this summer. Mars plans to introduce a version of its classic chocolate candies without artificial food dyes. The new candy will launch with four colors instead of the traditional six.

The biggest surprise is that blue and brown will not appear in the first dye free version. The company says those colors have proven much harder to recreate with natural ingredients.

Why Blue and Brown Are Missing

Mars successfully replaced several artificial colors by using natural ingredients like turmeric and beet based coloring. Blue has been much more difficult.

The company has tested spirulina, a blue green algae extract, as a natural replacement. However, it costs much more than traditional food coloring and creates manufacturing challenges. Since brown also depends on blue coloring, it will not appear in the first release either.

This Is Part of a Bigger Industry Shift

The updated candy follows a growing movement by major food companies to reduce or eliminate artificial food dyes. Mars previously announced plans to offer products without synthetic colors, including M&M’s, Skittles, Starburst, and Extra Gum.

The naturally colored M&M’s are expected to arrive in August and will first be sold through Amazon. Traditional M&M’s with the familiar color mix will still remain available while the company continues working on new formulas.

Will the Missing Colors Return?

Fans of the blue and brown candies should not worry too much. Mars says the colors are not gone forever.

The company hopes to develop natural versions of every classic M&M’s color by 2028. Until then, the original recipe will continue to be sold alongside the new dye free option.