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Skittles is a vibrant brand of chewy, fruity candies produced by the Wrigley Company, a division of Mars, Inc., that has delighted consumers around the globe since its establishment in 1974 in the United States.
The Skittles Family
Original Skittles
Skittles is best known for its original lineup of colorful candies, each boasting a different fruity flavor. The original flavors include strawberry (red), orange (orange), lemon (yellow), green apple (green), and grape (purple).
Sour Skittles
For those who enjoy a tangy twist, Sour Skittles offer the same fruity flavors as the original lineup, but with an added sour coating. These candies provide a puckering punch that complements the sweetness of the candy.
Blue Skittles
In a quest to continually excite consumers and drive incremental sales, the Wrigley Company has introduced a new blue-colored Skittle. This new variant is part of limited-edition "Once In A Blue Moon" packs, adding another hue to the Skittles rainbow.
Controversies and Bans: The Skittles Lawsuit
A resident of San Leandro, California, filed a lawsuit against the Mars Corporation due to "heightened levels" of titanium dioxide in Skittles, alleging that the candies "are not safe and pose a significant health risk to unsuspecting consumers." The substance titanium dioxide, an insoluble white powder used extensively in commercial products, including food, as an anti-caking or whitening agent, is said to be used in Skittles to produce the rainbow-like hues.
This substance was banned as a food additive in Europe in 2021 because it could "no longer be considered safe." Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has deemed it safe to use for coloring foods if proper restrictions are followed. These restrictions include limits on the quantity of titanium dioxide used and its application to certain foods.
Despite the controversy, it should be noted that Skittles is not the only food product that contains titanium dioxide. Other examples include Nice! brand mints, Trolli sour gummies, Ring Pops, and even some dairy and plant-based products like Lucerne cottage cheese, Beyond Meat chicken plant-based tenders, Great Value ice cream, and Chips Ahoy! cookies.
Skittles Logo: A Colorful Identity
Skittles has a vibrant and dynamic logo that matches the fun, colorful nature of the candies. The Skittles logo has seen many iterations since the product's launch, each version as eye-catching and colorful as the current one.
The logo's design has involved a range of colorful candies placed along the upper and bottom sides of the banner, with the Skittles inscription at the center. The candies at the top of the logo are enlarged, filled with rainbow gradients, symbolizing the array of flavors that the brand offers.
The typeface on the Skittles logo resembles the Helvetica Black font, yet it is a heavily customized version that enhances its uniqueness. The rainbow theme, ever-present in all the variations of the logo since 1982, uses two dominant colors: red and white.
The Purple Skittle: A Taste of Luxury
The purple Skittle, flavored as grape, is one of the signature flavors in the original Skittles pack. The color purple is often associated with luxury, power, and ambition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Blue Skittles: The blue Skittles were introduced by Wrigley in limited-edition 'Once In A Blue Moon' packs of Skittles.
Skittles Lawsuit: Skittles is being sued due to "heightened levels" of titanium dioxide. The plaintiff claims that Skittles "are not safe and pose a significant health risk to unsuspecting consumers." In Europe, titanium dioxide has been banned as a food additive. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not banned the substance and has deemed it safe to use for coloring foods if proper restrictions are followed.
Titanium Dioxide: Titanium dioxide is an insoluble white powder that is used extensively in many commercial products, including food, as an anti-caking or whitening agent. With Skittles, titanium dioxide is used to help produce those rainbow-like hues.
Skittles Company: Skittles were originally produced by a company in England. Today, the product is manufactured and marketed by the Wrigley Company, which is a division of Mars, Inc.
Skittles Logo: The Skittles logo has evolved over time, with the rainbow theme being present in all the variations of the logo launched since 1982. The typeface featured on the Skittles logo resembles the Helvetica Black font, yet it is definitely a heavily customized version.
Atlas Obscura Book: The book you mentioned, "An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders, 2nd Edition," is a guide to unique and lesser-known locations around the world. The second edition added 100 new places, 12 new city guides, and a fold-out map of a dream around-the-world journey.
Skittles Bubble Gum: Skittles Bubble Gum is a product that combines the classic Skittles fruity flavors with chewy bubble gum, allowing you to enjoy the flavor for even longer.