I wouldn’t say that I ate a lot of Skittles, but they’ve pretty much always been around ever since I was a kid and so it’s kind of shock to hear that a lawsuit has been filed saying that they’re not fit for human consumption. That’s pretty serious!

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Jenile Thames is leading a class action suit against Mars (the owners of Skittles) over in California, claiming that the sweets shouldn’t be eaten by humans because they contain trace elements of titanium dioxide. Thames says that Mars are failing to adequately warn customers of its presence, causing a fraud of omission.

For those of you that don’t know, titanium dioxide is regularly used in cakes, candles, toothpaste and paint as a white colouring agent, but there are some concerns that it may result in genotoxicity. This is damage to DNA that could in time lead to cancer – like pretty much everything else out there, right?

Anyway, European lawmakers banned it as a food additive back in March – although it’s still allowed in the UK – and Mars said that they would phase it out from all their products over a five year period back in 2016. The lawsuit is claiming that this hasn’t been achieved and that they’ve broken their own promise to their consumers.

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Mars have said the following in their defence:

While we do not comment on pending litigation, our use of titanium dioxide complies with FDA regulations.

Titanium dioxide is not illegal, providing its kept to a minimum.

Fair enough maybe? Well, the lawsuit has countered this by saying that Mars should be doing more to fix Skittles and that the ingredient list deliberately deceives customers by being printed in minuscule print on the back of packets and being barely readable. They also cite other sweets that are brightly coloured without having to use titanium dioxide.

Well, what to make of all that hey? I suppose Mars will say that the amount they’re using is OK  according to the FDA and the fact that it’s only just been banned in Europe and that the UK still allows it as part of their defence and that seems fairly reasonable on the face of it. Trouble is they said that they would eliminate it in five years and haven’t.

I think it’s a bit rich for the lawsuit to say that Skittles are no longer fit for human consumption after we’ve been munching down on them for years and this is the first that we’ve heard about them possibly causing cancer though. Just seems a bit absurdist/extremist, but maybe I’ll look like an idiot for suggesting that in a few years when the truth comes tumbling out.

Anyway, not really sure how it’s all going to pan out, but expect a Netflix docuseries about it in the future. Probably called ‘Taste The Rainbow’.

For more of the same, check out these giant Skittles that arrived in the UK a couple of years ago. Should probably steer clear of them for a while.