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13h ago

Texas Attorney General Probes Mars Over Synthetic Food Dyes

The demand seeks documents on the company's U.S. use of artificial colors after its 2016 pledge was scaled back to Europe.

M&M's chocolate candies are displayed at the M&M's World store in Manhattan in New York City, U.S., April 19, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
M&M's candies pictured in New York City (left) and a packed of Skittles seen in the Netherlands (right).
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Overview

  • Ken Paxton’s office alleges Mars misled consumers by claiming artificial colors pose no known health risks despite links to ADHD, autism and cancer.
  • Paxton has issued a civil investigative demand requiring Mars to produce documents related to its use of synthetic dyes in U.S. products.
  • Mars removed artificial colors in Europe after its 2016 pledge but continues using petroleum-based dyes in U.S. candies such as M&Ms and Skittles.
  • This investigation is the first enforcement action connected to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again campaign as federal regulators gear up to ban certain dyes by 2027.
  • Major food companies including General Mills, Hershey and Nestlé have committed to eliminate synthetic food dyes from their U.S. product lines by 2028 or sooner.