How do you enjoy STARBURST®?

Are you a Stacker? Maybe you're a Squisher. We're sure you've mashed chews together for the ultimate flavor combination. STARBURST® is a chew that's Different Every Time. As you enjoy your next piece, take a moment to explore the information below about your favorite fruit chew. Spoiler Alert: the chewy texture and fruity flavor you know and love remain unchanged.

FD&C is an abbreviation for “Food, Drug, & Cosmetic” as it’s used in reference to the United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a set of laws that grants the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to oversee the quality and safety of foods sold in the US, including the ingredients and additives used in foods.

As part of its oversight, the FDA identifies the specific color additives that may be used in foods. Approved color additives include colors derived from natural sources, such as vegetables or plants, and colors that are synthetically derived. 

The name, “FD&C colors,” is given to a specific group of FDA-approved synthetically derived colors.  In the ingredient list on a food label, FD&C colors are identified by a color name followed by a number. For example, FD&C colors include:

• Blue 1 and Blue 1 Lake
• Blue 2 and Blue 2 Lake
• Red 40 and Red 40 Lake
• Yellow 5 and Yellow 5 Lake
• Yellow 6 and Yellow 6 Lake

With the removal of FD&C colors from select Starburst® fruit chews, product labels will change in the following ways:

• The list of ingredients will no longer include FD&C color names like Blue 1. Colors used in a product will be listed as COLORS ADDED.
• The label may include a claim calling out no use of FD&C colors in the applicable product.

When a STARBURST® product label states, “No FD&C Colors,” consumers can be assured that the product does not contain any FD&C colors.

Colors used in Starburst® Original Fruit Chews 27.5 oz pouch include:

Beta-apo-8’-carotenal

Beta-carotene

Purple carrot juice concentrate 

The delicious, fruity chew that’s Different Every Time is still the same. The iconic taste of Starburst Fruit chews is here to stay.