NEWARK, N.J.—
Red M&Ms;, banished 11 years ago because of misplaced concern over food dyes, are once again taking their rightful place among the tan, brown, yellow, orange and green.
The return of the red candies that melt in your mouth but not in your hand was prompted by a national outcry that included thousands of letters to the manufacturer and the formation of college campus societies, a spokesman for the Hackettstown-based M&M-Mars; said Wednesday. A few stores already have the red ones in stock now, but most won’t carry them until February. About 20% of the 100 million M&Ms; made each day will be red, the company said. The attachment is purely emotional because M&Ms; of all hues taste alike. “It’s great fun and it’s part of America,” said M&Ms; spokesman Hans Fiuczynski. “That’s our best explanation” for the popularity of red M&Ms;, he said.
The company has received letters from World War II veterans who remembered red M&Ms; in GI rations and from people who learned how to count in grammar school with the candies, he said.
M&Ms;, a hard round coating over a chocolate center, were first made in 1941.
Red M&Ms; were discontinued in 1976 because of “confusion and concern” over Red Dye No. 2, which was banned by federal regulators as a health risk, said Fiuczynski. Red M&Ms; contained Red Dye Nos. 3 and 40, which are considered safe. Correspondence surged during the last two Christmas seasons when M&M-Mars; sold a limited number of packages of green and red candies for the holidays.
People wrote, “Why do I have to buy a whole year’s supply?” Fiuczynski related.
“How great! How wonderful!” was one food and beverage industry analyst’s reaction to the news of the return of red M&Ms.;
“I always loved them and I always missed them,” said Marvin Roffman of Janney Montgomery Scott Inc. in Philadelphia. “As a loyal M&Ms; eater, I welcome the red color. It cheers me up to eat a red M&M.; I’m going out to buy a package right now.”
More seriously, Roffman described privately held M&M-Mars; as the largest candy company nationwide and praised the quality and value of its products.
FAQs
They were replaced with orange-colored M&Ms. However, 11 years later, after overwhelming requests from consumers, Mars brought back the color red and decided to keep the orange M&Ms around.
Do they make red M&Ms anymore? ›
In 1976, Mars eliminated red-colored M&M's because of health concerns over the dye amaranth (FD&C Red #2), which was a suspected carcinogen, and replaced them with orange M&M's.
Why were red mms banned for over 10 years? ›
As for red M&M's, Mars actually stopped producing the color between 1976 and 1987, according to Mental Floss. Apparently, the Soviet Union declared that Red Dye No. 2 could pose a health risk to those who consumed it. So, to be safe, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the use of the dye.
Why did M&Ms get rid of red? ›
Much to the public's dismay, the Mars and Murray Company stopped production of red M&Ms because of a health scare concerning Red Dye Number 2, which at the time was the most common red food dye in use.
Are red M&Ms rare? ›
However, in 1985, the red M&M's were reintroduced using a different food coloring. Therefore, red M&Ms are less rare than the other colors but the company doesn't disclose the exact proportion of the colors in their bags.
What color is M&M retired? ›
Red M&M's were one of the original colors in 1941 but were eliminated in 1976 over the fear of a particular red dye that was linked to cancer.
What are the rarest M&Ms? ›
Brown was the rarest color, making up only 13% of the total. Now, this answer has an asterisk attached to it (as all the best answers do). *The rarest color M&M is actually tan or light brown.
Are red M&Ms safe to eat? ›
While it is extremely unlikely that Red No. 40 in M&M's presents any risk for humans, the same may not be true for hummingbirds.
Why was red 2 banned? ›
In the 1970s, Red #2 was banned after tests showed a link between its carcinogenic properties and intestinal tumors. Several yellow dyes have also been banned, leaving only seven dyes on the FDA's approved list - the most popular of which are Yellow #5, Blue #1, and Red #40.
Why was Red 3 banned? ›
On its website, the FDA cites animal studies as the core reason for banning Red 3 in cosmetics but not foods: “The way that Red No. 3 causes cancer in animals, specifically rats, does not occur in humans so these animal results have limited relevance to humans.
For the most part, however, they all taste the same regardless of color. If you could've sworn that red M&Ms taste better than all other colors, or that the pink Hershey's kisses that come out during Valentine's Day are far more irresistible than the regular kind, the truth is you're imagining things.
Where are the red M&Ms? ›
The Mars company succumbed to a brief bout of hysteria in 1976, when federal regulations identified red food coloring, or Red Dye No. 2, as a possible health risk.
Is red dye in all M&Ms? ›
Some candy manufacturers have already removed red No. 3 from their products. For instance, M&M's and Skittles no longer contain the dye. But it can still be found in many other products, including certain snacks, cake and cookie icing and decorations and some Halloween treats.
Is there a purple M&M? ›
There are three purple options for bulk M&M's: purple plain, light-purple plain and purple peanut.
How rare is a blue M&M? ›
We've compiled key statistics on various M&M types. On average, regular milk chocolate M&Ms have 24.17% blue, 20.34% red, 16.3% green, 12.6% orange, and 18.3% yellow. In peanut bags, 12.94% are blue, 13.54% red, 15.40% green, 13.70% orange, and 15.50% yellow.
What's the rarest M&M color? ›
It's Brown. In the end, he discovered that these findings did not match what was originally listed on Mars's website. In his samples, he found out that only around 13.48% of all M&M's are brown. The next rarest color was yellow, with a proportion of only 14.47%.
What is the rarest color of M&Ms? ›
It's Brown. In the end, he discovered that these findings did not match what was originally listed on Mars's website. In his samples, he found out that only around 13.48% of all M&M's are brown. The next rarest color was yellow, with a proportion of only 14.47%.
Are there new M&M colors? ›
28, the first time a new color has joined the lineup in over a decade. Purple, which joins Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Brown, is "designed to represent acceptance and inclusivity." She has a "charm and quirky" nature driven by "self-awareness, authenticity and confidence."
What red dye was banned in the 70s? ›
The FDA banned FD&C Red No. 2 in 1976.
