Candy Without Red Dye 40: The Big List

Food & Beverage, Snack Foods

Candy often contains Red 40 and other artificial dyes. Some examples of candies that contain Red 40 are Skittles, Starburst, Red Vines, and M&Ms.

However, you certainly have options when it comes to candy without Red 40. Below you will find a list of candies without this controversial artificial dye. While the list is certainly does not include all candies made, it does provide numerous options of a variety of candies that do not contain Red 40.

Prior to presenting the candy list, we want to emphasize the importance of reviewing the ingredients at the store before making a purchase regardless of what you read here or from other third party sources. Ingredients are subject to change, and the information on the candy label is the most reliable source for accurate details.

Food manufacturers in the U.S. are required to list Red 40 in the ingredients list so it is super simple to confirm if a candy contains it. See the below image for an example of ingredients that show the candy contains Red 40.

Candy Bars & Chocolate Without Red Dye 40

Most candy bars have no Red 40 since the components like chocolate, peanuts, and nougat provide sufficient natural coloring. However, you should still be careful about the candy you select because there are certainly bars that have Red 40.

The below candy bars are either free of Red 40 or most of the products under the brand have no Red 40. Again, confirm these bars are free of Red 40 by reviewing the ingredients at the store if avoiding this ingredient is vital to you.

  • 100 Grand
  • 3 Musketeers
  • 5th Avenue
  • Almond Joy
  • Baby Ruth
  • Bark Thins
  • Brookside – Chocolate balls that are filled with with ingredients like nuts and fruits.
  • Butterfinger – The bars contain no Red 40. They are colored with annatto color.
  • Caramello
  • Charleston Chew – Chocolate and Vanilla flavors had no Red 40. Strawberry contains Red 40.
  • Chuao Chocolatier – A premium chocolate brand handmade in Carlsbad, California found at Whole Foods, Ralphs, Michael’s, and others.
  • Cocoa Parlor – Organic vegan chocolates.
  • Crunch Bar
  • Darrell Lea
  • Dove – Most Dove Bars and Promises are free of Red 40 but not all. Avoid Promise Molten Lava and potential others. Read the ingredients on Dove candies.
  • Enjoy Life – The company makes candy bars without 14 common allergens and no Red 40.
  • Ghirardelli – Most have no dye or are naturally colored. However, we noticed some products like Peppermint Bark have Red 40. Check the ingredients.
  • Heath
  • Hershey’s Bars – Most are free of Red 40 including the standard milk chocolate bars. However, there are some that contain Red 40 such as Popping Candy, Red, White & Blue Bar, Sugar Cookie. Read the ingredients at the store before you buy for all Hershey’s bars beyond the original bar.
  • Hershey’s Kisses – The Original Kisses are free of Red 40. However, there are other flavors such as Candy Cane, Sugar Cookie, Cherry Cordial, Strawberry Ice Cream Cone, and Chocolate Dipped Strawberry that have Red 40. We highly suggest reading the product labels at the store for this brand.
  • John Kelly Chocolates – All natural ingredients are used to make this chocolate.
  • Justin’s
  • Kinder
  • KitKat – Most have no Red 40. Avoid Strawberry & Dark Chocolate, Blueberry Muffin, Fruity Cereal, Mocha + Chocolate, Churro, and Birthday Cake.
  • Lily’s – A less sugar or no added sugar candy brand.
  • Lindt
  • Little Secrets – A chocolate candy brand made with better ingredients compared to the bigger guys. Any color in this candy comes from natural sources like turmeric and beet juice. Look for the chocolate at Costco, Target, and Amazon. Products include nougat bars, crispy wafers, chocolate pieces, and cookie bars.
  • Maltesers – Sold in the U.K. and are similar to Whoppers in the U.S. See Whoppers vs. Maltesers.
  • Mars – Mars bars are Milky Way bars outside of the U.S. and have no Red 40.
  • Milk Duds
  • Milky Way – Original, Midnight, and Cookie Dough have no Red 40.
  • Mounds
  • Mr. Goodbar
  • Munch Peanut Bar
  • Nelly’s Organics – An organic candy bar brand that is found in the refrigerated section of stores. All products are dye-free.
  • Payday – Original and Chocolatey have no Red 40.
  • Reese’s Cups – Most are dye free including Original. Avoid any cups with Reese’s Pieces in them. Reese’s Pieces have Red 40 in them.
  • Rolo
  • Skor
  • Snickers
  • Symphony (Hershey’s)
  • Tony’s Chocolonely
  • Turtles (DeMet’s)
  • Twix
  • Unreal – The brand uses nothing artificial like Red 40. The candy is also certified vegan. They make chocolates similar to Reese’s, Snickers, and M&Ms, among others.
  • Whatchamacallit
  • Whoppers – Original Whoopers & Snowballs (Vanilla Flavored) have no Red 40. However, Whoopers Robin Eggs have Red 40.
  • York
  • YumEarth – A dye-free candy brand.
  • Zagnut
  • Zero

Hard Candies

Hard candies are notorious for containing Red 40. You should be highly selective of the hard candy you buy and check the ingredients at the store for Red 40 if you are avoiding it.

These are the hard candies that we found to have no Red 40 at the time of this article. Be sure to confirm they are still free of Red 40 at the store by reviewing the candy’s ingredients:

  • Charms Organic Pops – An alternative to Charms Blow Pops but with natural colors.
  • Life Savers Butter Rum – Generally, Life Savers should be avoided because nearly all have Red 40. However, Butter Rum hard candies have no Red 40.
  • Lemonhead – No Red 40 but they do contain Yellow 5.
  • Lovely Candy Company – Its hard candies and lollipops use fruit and vegetable juices for color.
  • SmartSweets – Its hard candy includes lollipops and jolly gems made with fruit and veggie juices for coloring and minimal sugar.
  • Werther’s Original – The majority of products have no artificial dyes. Some contain artificial dyes so check the ingredients.
  • YumEarth – A dye-free candy brand.
  • Zolli Pops – Sugar-free, gluten-free, nut-free, vegan, non-GMO lollipops with natural flavors and colors.

Gummies & Chewy Candy

Candies like gummies, Skittles, and Starburst have Red 40. But, you can consider these Red 40 free options. Verify that these are still free of Red 40 before you buy by reviewing the list of ingredients.

  • Atkinson’s Peanut Butter Bars
  • Black Cow – Chocolate caramels made by Atkinson’s
  • Black Forest – These gummies are colored from plant sources. No Red 40 is used.
  • Brach’s – Milk Maid Caramels, Nips, Butter Rum Hard Caramels, and Lemon Drops are free of Red 40. Check the labels because other varieties have Red 40.
  • Chick-O-Stick
  • Cocomels – Certified organic caramels made with coconut milk.
  • Dare Candy Co. – The company makes a variety of no artificial dye candies including gummies, jubes, gum drops. candy fruit slices, and jelly beans. The company is based out of Canada and has been family owned since the late 1800s.
  • Darrell Lea – Licorice, Twists, Bites, and Fabulicious are free of artificial dyes.
  • Goetze’s Caramel Creams & Cow Tails – The caramel apple & strawberry flavors have Red 40. Original, brownie, and Oreo flavors did not have Red 40 at the time of this article.
  • Heaven & Earth Lil Taffy – Taffy made with natural flavors and colors.
  • Honest – Organic gummies.
  • Junior Caramels – Original Junior Caramels are free of Red 40.
  • Junior Mints – Original have no Red 40.
  • Kraft Caramels
  • Lily’s – Gummy Bears and Sour Gummy Worms have no Red 40 or added sugar.
  • Long Boys
  • Lovely Candy Company – They make Chewy Candies, Caramels, Honey Gummy Bears and Sour Honey Gummy Bears without artificial ingredients including Red 40.
  • Mary Jane
  • Mentos – Most have zero artificial dyes.
  • Slo Poke
  • SmartSweets – The company makes candy colored with fruit and veggie juices including gummies & chewy candy.
  • Sugar Daddy
  • Surf Sweets – The company specializes in allergy-freiendly candy that is made with organic ingredients. Candies include gummy bears, gummy worms, fruit rings, jelly beans, and DelishFish (like Swedish fish).
  • Tootsie Rolls – Original and Vanilla have no Red 40. Avoid Harvest Chews (Cinnamon, Pumpkin Spice, Caramel Apple, Candy Corn). Read the labels before you buy if avoiding artificial dyes.
  • Torie & Howard – Organic candy brand made with no artificial colors. They make fruity candies that are hard or chewy.
  • YumEarth – A dye-free candy brand.