- Texas attorney general Ken Paxton has begun investigating Mars for allegedly refusing to remove synthetic food dyes from its products.
- Paxton called on Mars to follow the lead of other companies like Nestle and Hershey by removing synthetic dyes from its products.
- Mars stated that it is actively exploring alternative products with natural colours that meet safety criteria and consumer preferences.
Texas' attorney general said on Wednesday he has begun investigating Mars, which makes M&M's and Skittles candies, for its alleged refusal to remove synthetic food dyes from its products.
Ken Paxton, the attorney general, said in a statement that he issued a civil investigative demand for documents from Mars, as he examines whether the family-owned company violated consumers' rights through deceptive trade practices.
Paxton said Mars has not fulfilled its 2016 pledge to remove all artificial colors from food products, saying it had removed "toxic" dyes in Europe but not the United States.
"It's time for Mars to follow the lead of other companies like Nestle and Hershey by removing synthetic dyes from its products," Paxton said. "It's the right thing to do."
In a statement, Mars said it is "actively exploring choice product alternatives that satisfy scientific safety criteria, technical requirements and consumer preferences," and expects to sell more food products with natural colours in the near future.
The McLean, Virginia-based company has said people's attitudes toward food dyes vary by location, with European consumers preferring that dyes be removed from some foods while other consumers preferring to keep them.
Paxton, a Republican, also began investigations this year into food dyes in cereal, and how toothpaste containing fluoride is marketed to children.
Removing synthetic food dyes and reducing Americans' consumption of ultra-processed foods has been a priority for US health and human services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as part of his ‘Make America Healthy Again’ campaign.
Kennedy has blamed the dyes for health problems including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and cancer, though many scientists say more research is needed.
General Mills, J.M. Smucker, Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo, as well as Hershey and Nestle, are among companies that have voluntarily committed to removing the dyes by 2028 or earlier.
(Reuters)