Are Skittles Vegan?
Yes — US Skittles are vegan as of 2010. Wrigley (the Mars subsidiary that makes Skittles) removed gelatin from the US Skittles formula around 2010. The current US ingredient list contains no animal-derived products. However, some international varieties (particularly in Europe) may still contain gelatin, and carmine (a red dye from crushed insects) was removed from the US formula previously.
Current US Skittles Ingredient List
Original Skittles (US):
- Sugar, Corn syrup, Hydrogenated palm kernel oil, Citric acid, Tapioca dextrin, Modified corn starch, Natural and artificial flavors, Colors (Red 40, Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 2, Blue 1), Sodium Citrate, Carnauba wax
No gelatin, no carmine, no dairy, no beeswax. All ingredients are either plant-derived or synthetically produced.
Carnauba wax — The shiny coating on Skittles comes from carnauba wax, derived from the carnauba palm — a plant. It is vegan.
Which Skittles Varieties Are Vegan (US)?
| Variety | Vegan (US)? |
|---|---|
| Original Skittles | Yes |
| Wild Berry Skittles | Yes |
| Sour Skittles | Yes |
| Tropical Skittles | Yes |
| Gummies Skittles | Check label — may contain gelatin |
The “Gummies” line from Skittles uses a different formula and may contain gelatin — read the label carefully.
FAQ
Did Skittles always contain carmine? Carmine (a red colorant made from crushed cochineal insects) was used in some Skittles formulas historically. It was removed from the US formula prior to 2010. Current US Skittles use synthetic Red 40 instead.
Are Starburst vegan? Starburst (also made by Wrigley/Mars) use gelatin in the US formula — they are not currently vegan in the US. See our are Starbursts vegan article for full details.
For more vegan snack options, visit the snacks and pantry hub. More answers in the Is This Vegan? Q&A category.