Is Skittles fruit ultra-processed?

Sold in Spain

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Colour
Emulsifier
Flavouring
Glazing agent
Glucose
Glucose syrup
and 12 more

23 ingredients
13 additives

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Socker (processing marker), glukossirap (ultra-processing marker), palmfett, syror (e330), e296, dextrin (ultra-processing marker), maltodextrin (ultra-processing marker), aromer (ultra-processing marker), modifierad stärkelse (ultra-processing marker), surhetsreglerande medel (e331), färgämnen (ultra-processing marker) (e120 (ultra-processing marker)), e100 (ultra-processing marker), e171 (ultra-processing marker), e132 (ultra-processing marker), e160e (ultra-processing marker), e133 (ultra-processing marker), ytbehandlingsmedel (ultra-processing marker) (e903 (ultra-processing marker)), emulgeringsmedel (ultra-processing marker) (polyglycerolestrar av fettsyror (ultra-processing marker))

Additives: E100 Curcumin , E120 Cochineal , E132 Indigotine , E133 Brilliant blue FCF , E1400 Dextrin , E14XX Modified Starch , E160e Beta-apo-8′-carotenal (c30) , E171 Titanium dioxide , E296 Malic acid , E330 Citric acid , E331 Sodium citrates , E475 Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids , E903 Carnauba wax

As written on the pack

Socker, glukossirap, palmfett, syror: E330, E296, dextrin, maltodextrin, aromer, modifierad stärkelse, surhetsreglerande medel: E331, färgämnen: E120, E100, E171, E132, E160e, E133, ytbehandlingsmedel: E903, emulgeringsmedel: polyglycerolestrar av fettsyror,

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

E100 Curcumin Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.
E120 Cochineal Carmine is a red colour made from cochineal insects.
E132 Indigotine Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.
E133 Brilliant blue FCF Brilliant blue FCF is a synthetic blue dye, listed in the US as FD&C Blue No. 1.
E1400 Dextrin Dextrin is starch partly broken down by heat or acid, used as a thickener, binder and coating.
E14xx Modified Starch Modified starches (E1400 to E1452) are starches treated physically, with enzymes or chemically so that they thicken and hold up to heating, freezing or acidity better than ordinary starch.

Show 9 more

E160e Beta-apo-8′-carotenal (c30) Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.
E171 Titanium dioxide Titanium dioxide is a white pigment.
E475 Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
E903 Carnauba wax Carnauba wax comes from the leaves of a Brazilian palm and gives sweets and coated chocolates their shine.
Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.
Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
Glazing agent Glazing agents, waxes and shellac for example, coat a surface to make it shiny or stop pieces sticking together.
Modified starch Modified starch is starch altered physically, with enzymes or chemically, so that it thickens, gels or survives freezing and heating better than ordinary starch.

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

Refined or extracted in factories, such as syrups made from starch or isolated proteins. The other hallmark of ultra-processed food.

Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
Glucose syrup Glucose syrup is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.

2 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0086158316897, last edited 27 March 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.