Skittles (confectionery)

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Skittles candy.
Skittles candy.

Skittles are small round fruit chews that come in hard sugar shells with the letter "s" printed on them, representing the candy's name. This "s" insignia was printed in a very dark shade of purple (almost appearing black) from 1974 until 1988. Starting in 1989, the "s" insignia was changed to white. Modern Skittles with the white "s" insignia are similar in outward appearance to plain chocolate M&M's, which are also produced by Masterfoods, a division of Mars, Incorporated. The inside is a white granulate and consists mainly of sugar, and a small amount of hydrogenated vegetable oil, fruit juice, citric acid and natural and artificial flavors.

Skittles bite size candies, originally made by a company in England, were first created in 1974. In 1981, the production of Skittles began in the United States.[1][2] Skittles sold in the United Kingdom are made in the Czech Republic, where Mars Incorporated makes them for export to many European Union markets. The company also produces the product in Victoria, Australia, for distribution in the New Zealand market.

Contents

[edit] Ingredients and properties

In the United States, a bag of Skittles candy contains: high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, apple juice from concentrate, less than 2% - citric acid, dextrin, natural and artificial flavours, gelatin, food starch-modified, colouring (includes Yellow 6 lake, Red 40 lake, Yellow 5 lake, Blue 2 lake, Blue 1 lake, Yellow 5, Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 1), ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).

In Europe, a bag of Skittles sweets contains: sugar, glucose syrup, fruit juices (5.1%), hydrogenated vegetable fat, citric acid & trisodium citrate, dextrin, maltodextrin, flavourings & colourings (E100, E120, E132, E160e, E171), glazing agents, vegetable oil, ascorbic acid and emulsifier (E475).[3]

A recent statistical analysis measured the mass of one Skittle to be 1066 ± 8 mg (N = 10, ± s.e.m.), or 0.0376 ± 0.0003 U.S. ounces.[4]

[edit] Dietary restrictions

Skittles are not vegetarian in the USA as they contain gelatin, as opposed to the European recipe which does not. However, they are still not suitable for vegans as they contain shellac. In the mid 2000s, Skittles in the USA began using palm kernel oil in the recipe, increasing shelf life as well as fat content.

Skittles are also not certified as being Halal by any certifying authority. It appears that Skittles are not Kosher certified in North America, and now also not Kosher in the UK either, as the London Beth Din published in November 2007 on their alerts page that "Skittles previously approved and parev are now Not Kosher."[5] Recently in Canada there have been some packages of Skittles that were mistakenly labeled as Kosher, but are not.[6]

[edit] Varieties

[edit] Original Fruit Skittles (red package)

The flavours are:

In the South Korean, Armenian, Taiwanese, and Australian versions of Original Fruit Skittles, Apple (green) replaces Lime. Green apple replaced lime in the USA as well for a short while in 2001. Also in the United Kingdom Blackcurrant (purple) replaces Grape.

They were the first Skittles ever made in the U.S..

[edit] Tropical Skittles (light blue package)

In 1989, Tropical Skittles were introduced. Tropical is a mix of exotic tropical flavors, with more than one flavor typically combined into one skittle. The product is sold in either light blue bags or boxes; originally, they came in red-orange bags or boxes.

The flavors are:

[edit] Wild Berry Skittles (purple package)

In 1990,[1] Wild Berry Skittles were introduced. Wild Berry is a mix of exotic berry flavouring and the product is sold in either purple bags or boxes.

The flavours are:

[edit] Tart-n-Tangy Skittles

In 1990, Tart-n-Tangy Skittles were introduced. They were tart (like SweeTarts). The product was discontinued a few years after its introduction. It was sold in a bright green bag.

The flavours are:

[edit] Sour Skittles (green package)

In 2000, Sour Skittles were introduced. These types of Skittles are coated with very sour citric acid crystals, and the product is sold in either bright green spiral bags or boxes.

The flavours are:

There used to be a sour Green Apple flavour, but it has been replaced by sour Blue Raspberry.

In the United Kingdom, Sour Skittles contain different flavours.

As part of the Shrek The Third promotion, a pink Wizard Watermelon, replacing Grape, and a green Apple-y Ever After skittle was added to the variety of Sour Skittles.

[edit] Smoothie Mix Skittles (peach package)

In 2005, Smoothie Mix Skittles were introduced. The name comes from a smoothie, which is a fruit mix drink, and the product is sold in either orange bags or boxes.

The flavours are:

[edit] Ice Cream Skittles (cream/off-white package)

In March 2006, Skittles released a 'Limited Edition' Ice Cream Skittles variety. This also went along with their "Chillin' for a Million" campaign. By late 2006 they were very difficult to find. They have been discontinued.

The flavours are:

[edit] Carnival Skittles (yellow package)

In October 2006 Limited Edition Carnival Skittles (also known as Unlimited Skittles) began circulating. It is unknown when the first production of this variety began. References to this variety have also been difficult to obtain. In 2007, flavours of Carnival Skittles were made available in regular packs of Skittles (Green Slushy in Original Fruit packs, Candy Apple in Wild Berry packs, Cotton Candy in Smoothie Mix packs, and Bubble Gum in Tropical packs) to help coincide with the Text Thru Time promotion.

The flavours are:

In 2007 these Skittles were re-released as 'Skittles Unlimited' for a limited time in Canada and are sold in black packages.

This variety of Skittles contains very sweet and accurate flavours causing some to liken them to Jelly Belly flavours.

In June 2007 Carnival Skittles became available in Australia, known as Showtime flavours.

The flavours are:

  • Popcorn (light yellow)
  • Jam Donut (brown red)
  • Toffee Apple (green)
  • Fairy Floss (pink)
  • Bubblegum (baby blue)

[edit] Double Sour Skittles (green package)

In 2007, Double Sour were introduced. These types of Skittles are, as the name suggests, coated with a double portion of very sour citric acid crystals. Like Sour Skittles, the product is sold in either bright green bags or boxes.

The flavours are:

It is not clear whether Double Sour Skittles will be available only on a limited time basis.

[edit] Xtreme Fruit Skittles (black package)

Xtreme Fruit Skittles were introduced in 2007, and have the same flavours as Xtreme Fruit Skittles Bubble Gum. Xtreme Fruit is a mix of exotic extreme fruit flavouring, and the product will be sold in either black bags or boxes.

The flavours are:

[edit] Mint Skittles (blue package)

Mint Skittles were made in 2000. They came in spearmint and wintergreen. Unlike ordinary Skittles, they came in plastic containers instead of bags. They are hard to find, as they have been discontinued.

[edit] Skittles Mints (green package)

Skittles Mints (different from Mint Skittles) are a variety of mint flavoured Skittles sold for a time in Europe. They were sold not in the usual bag nor in the plastic containers, but in a 55g box, deep turquoise in colour. Skittles Mints were released in 2001.

The flavors were:

  • Coolmint (blue)
  • Peppermint (white)
  • Toffeemint (green-brown)
  • Spearmint (dark green)
  • Sweetmint (Pale green)

[edit] Chocolate (brown package)

Chocolate Skittles were released in 1998. They have been discontinued as of 2001. They were sold in 55g bags just like M&M's.

The flavors were:

[edit] Chocolate Mix Skittles (brown package)

Skittles "Chocolate Mix" was announced at the All Candy Expo 2007. The product is sold in either brown bags or boxes.

The flavours are


Chocolate Mix Skittles are suitable for vegans and vegetarians. They do not contain gelatin or shellac. The ingredients are as follows:

Sugar, corn syrup, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, less than 2% coca powder processed with alkali, dextrin, modified corn starch, artificial and natural flavours, colouring (includes yellow 6 lake, red 40 lake, yellow 5 lake, blue1 lake, blue 2 lake, yellow 5). Gluten-free.

[edit] Liquorice Skittles (black package)

Liquorice Skittles were made in 1982. They are hard to find because they have been discontinued. They were sold in Europe in 55g boxes rather than the usual bag.

The flavours were:

  • Black Liquorice (black)
  • Liquorice Aniseed (green)
  • Liquorice Spice (red)
  • Liquorice Vanilla (orange)
  • Liquorice Mint (white)

[edit] Fresh Mint Skittles (dark green package)

Fresh Mint Skittles was the very first type of different Skittles made. They were released in 1977 and production ended in 2005. There were 99.999 bags of it.

[edit] Skittles Bubble Gum (black package) and other products

In 2004, Original Fruit Skittles bubble gum was introduced. Later that year, Skittles introduced a product made in partnership with Lip Smackers, Skittles-flavoured lip gloss. Mint Skittles, which came in two mixes (Peppermint and Spearmint mixes) were also made. In 2005, Xtreme Fruit Skittles bubble gum was introduced.

[edit] Skittles Sensations

In 2008, Skittles Sensations were produced. They come in dark blue bags.

The flavours are:

  • Chilli Berry (red)
  • Juicy Orange (orange)
  • Lemon Tingle (yellow)
  • Sour Apple (green)
  • Cool Raspberry (blue)

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b SKITTLES® | Product Info
  2. ^ Mars North America Newsroom
  3. ^ Skittles Ingredients
  4. ^ Skittle Weight
  5. ^ London Beth Din Kashrut Division
  6. ^ OU - The world's best known kosher trademark | Consumers | Alerts

[edit] External links

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