Is Skittles - variety pack ultra-processed?
Yes, it's ultra-processed
- 1 Unprocessed
- 2 Kitchen staple
- 3 Processed
- 4 Ultra-processed
Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:
- 48 ingredients
- 12 additives
Less processed candies
-
Organic honey
Giant Eagle
1 ingredient · no additives
NOVA group
2
-
Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar
Unreal
7 ingredients · no additives
NOVA group
3
-
Semisweet Chocolate Baking Chips
Guittard
5 ingredients · no additives
NOVA group
3
-
Original Ginger Chews
Prince of Peace
4 ingredients · no additives
NOVA group
3
Ingredients
Ultra-processing Processing
ngredients strawberry (citric acid), artificial flavors (ultra-processing marker), aspartamet, maltodextrin (ultra-processing marker), monocalcium phosphate, contains 2% and less of the following (magnesium oxide), acesulfame potassium (ultra-processing marker), artificial color (ultra-processing marker), red 40 (ultra-processing marker), blue 1 (ultra-processing marker), green apple (citric acid), aspartamet, maltodextrin (ultra-processing marker), monocalcium phosphate, natural and artificial flavors (ultra-processing marker), magnesium oxide, contains 2% and less of the following (acesulfame potassium (ultra-processing marker)), artificial color (ultra-processing marker), yellow 5 (ultra-processing marker), blue 1 (ultra-processing marker), orange (citric acid), natural and artificial flavors (ultra-processing marker), aspartamet, maltodextrin (ultra-processing marker), sodium citrate, contains 2% and less of the following (magnesium oxide), salt (processing marker), acesulfame potassium (ultra-processing marker), sucralose (ultra-processing marker), yellow 6 (ultra-processing marker), grape (citric acid), aspartame† (ultra-processing marker), maltodextrin (ultra-processing marker), malic acid, natural and artificial flavors (ultra-processing marker), magnesium oxide, contains 2% and less of the following (artificial color (ultra-processing marker)), acesulfame potassium (ultra-processing marker), red 40 (ultra-processing marker), blue 1 (ultra-processing marker)
Additives: E102 Tartrazine , E110 Sunset yellow FCF , E129 Allura red , E133 Brilliant blue FCF , E296 Malic acid , E330 Citric acid , E331 Sodium citrates , E341 Calcium phosphates , E341i Monocalcium phosphate , E950 Acesulfame k , E951 Aspartame , E955 Sucralose
As written on the pack
ngredients strawberry: citric acid, artificial flavors, aspartamet, maltodextrin*, monocalcium phosphate, contains 2% or less of the following: magnesium oxide, acesulfame potassium, artificial color, red 40, blue 1. green apple: citric acid, aspartamet, maltodextrin*, monocalcium phosphate, natural and artificial flavors, magnesium oxide, contains 2% or less of the following: acesulfame potassium, artificial color, yellow 5, blue 1. orange: citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, aspartamet, maltodextrin*, sodium citrate, contains 2% or less of the following: magnesium oxide, salt, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, yellow 6. grape: citric acid, aspartame†, maltodextrin*, malic acid, natural and artificial flavors, magnesium oxide, contains 2% or less of the following: artificial color, acesulfame potassium, red 40, blue 1.
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.
- E102 Tartrazine Tartrazine is a synthetic yellow azo dye (FD&C Yellow No. 5 in the US).
- E110 Sunset yellow FCF Sunset yellow FCF is a synthetic orange azo dye (FD&C Yellow No. 6 in the US).
- E129 Allura red Allura red AC is a synthetic red azo dye (FD&C Red No. 40 in the US).
- E133 Brilliant blue FCF Brilliant blue FCF is a synthetic blue dye, listed in the US as FD&C Blue No. 1.
- E950 Acesulfame k Acesulfame K is a synthetic sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar, often combined with aspartame or sucralose.
- E951 Aspartame Aspartame is a synthetic sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar, used in diet drinks and sugar-free products.
Show 3 more
- E955 Sucralose Sucralose is a sweetener made by chlorinating sugar.
- Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
- Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
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.
- Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
3 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.
- Candies Products in the category "Candies" are at least group 3.
- Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
- Sweet snacks Products in the category "Sweet snacks" are at least group 3.
Among 486 candies
From least to most processed, this one ranks 401st. 96% of the candies here are ultra-processed.
About this information
- Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0072392328307, last edited 13 April 2025), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
- Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
- 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.