Skittles (confectionery) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Skittles
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)

Energy	1,680 kJ (400 kcal)

Carbohydrates	90.7 g
Sugars	75.6 g
Dietary fibre	0 g


Fat	4.4 g
Saturated	3.9 g
Trans	0 g


Protein	0 g


Vitamins	Quantity %DV^†
Vitamin A equiv.	0% 0 μg
Vitamin C	31% 26 mg


Minerals	Quantity %DV^†
Calcium	0% 0 mg
Iron	0% 0 mg
Sodium	1% 15.1 mg

Amounts converted and rounded to be relative to 100 g serving.
^†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults. Source: NutritionData

Skittles are small, round, fruit-flavored candies that come in many colors. They are made by the Wrigley Company, which is part of Mars Inc..

Each Skittle has a hard sugar shell with the letter 'S' printed on it. This is similar to M&M's, which have an 'M'. Inside, Skittles are mostly made of sugar, corn syrup, and palm kernel oil. They also contain fruit juice, citric acid, and different flavors. Skittles come in many flavor mixes, like Tropical, Wild Berry, Smoothie, and Sour.

The Story of Skittles
Different Kinds of Skittles
Images for kids
See also

The Story of Skittles

How Skittles Started

Skittles were first made in 1974 by a company in Britain. They came to North America as an imported candy in 1979. By 1982, Skittles started being made in the United States. The company that makes Skittles was bought by Mars' Wrigley division in 2008.

Where the Name Comes From

The name "Skittles" comes from a game where players knock down pins. The candies look a bit like the small pins used in that game.

"Taste the Rainbow"

Skittles are famous for their slogan, "Taste the rainbow." This idea was created by an advertising agency in New York.

Skittles and the Internet

In 2009, Skittles started a new way of advertising online. Their main website became a small window that let people visit their YouTube channel, Facebook page, and Twitter account. This was a new and interesting way to use social media for marketing.

Skittles for Everyone

In 2009, Skittles stopped using gelatin from animals. This change made them suitable for vegetarians, vegans, and people with certain religious diets.

Skittles and Important Events

Skittles have sometimes been part of important public discussions.

Skittles as a Symbol

In the 2010s, Skittles became a symbol during protests after the killing of Trayvon Martin. He had been carrying Skittles and a drink. People used Skittles to show support during rallies. The company, Mars, gave a short message of sympathy.

Later, in 2016, a picture using Skittles was shared online by Donald Trump Jr. to talk about immigration. Mars responded in a way that was seen as thoughtful and direct. Many people praised how Mars handled these situations.

Supporting Pride Month

In 2016, Skittles changed their candies from rainbow colors to all white. They did this to support Pride month, which celebrates LGBT rights and London Pride. The company explained on the candy packages that they wanted to let the community's rainbow be the only one that stood out.

However, some people were confused by the all-white candies. Some even thought it might be seen as racist, because the LGBT community is known for its diversity, like a rainbow.

Every June, Skittles continues to make colorless candies to raise awareness for Pride and collect money for LGBT charities. For example, in 2020, they made all-gray Skittles in the U.S. with the message "Only one rainbow matters during PRIDE."

Creative Advertising

Skittles is known for its very creative and sometimes unusual advertising, especially around the Super Bowl. In 2018, they made a Super Bowl commercial that only one person got to watch! In 2019, they put on a special show called Skittles Commercial: The Broadway Musical in New York City, which was performed only once.

Skittles and Health

Skittles are sometimes used to help people with diabetes who have hypoglycemia (very low blood sugar). The sugar in Skittles can quickly raise blood sugar levels.

Concerns About Ingredients

In 2021, food safety experts in the European Union found that titanium dioxide, a color additive in Skittles, might harm DNA. This could potentially lead to health problems. Because of this, the European Union started to stop the sale of foods with titanium dioxide. A full ban was put in place in August 2022.

In July 2022, a lawsuit was filed in California about Skittles still using titanium dioxide. However, this lawsuit was later dropped in November 2022.

In March 2023, a lawmaker in California suggested a bill to ban foods and drinks that contain titanium dioxide and four other additives. These additives have been linked to health issues, and some are already banned in the European Union. If this bill passes, California would be the first U.S. state to ban these ingredients, similar to the European Union's rules.

Different Kinds of Skittles

Skittles come in many different flavors and colors, including sour ones. Skittles often hint at new flavors on their Facebook page.

In 2013, Skittles changed the lime flavor to green apple in the United States and Canada. Many fans were unhappy about this change. The lime flavor did return in special "Darkside" and "Long Lost Lime" packets for a while. In September 2021, Skittles announced that the original lime flavor would replace green apple again. In 2022, Skittles Gummies were also released.