Skittles (confectionery)

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 1988Fact|date=September 2008. 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Skittles bite size candies, originally made by a company in England, were first created in 1974 and have been seen throughout pop culture since. In 1981, the production of Skittles began in the United States. [http://web.archive.org/web/20030411211658/skittles.com/product_info/ SKITTLES® | Product Info ] ] [ [http://www.masterfoodsnews.com/products_detail.asp?prodId=157 Mars North America Newsroom ] ] 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.

Ingredients and properties

In the United States, a bag of Skittles candy contains: sugar, corn syrup, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, apple juice from concentrate, less than 2% - citric acid, dextrin, natural and artificial flavors, gelatin, food starch-modified, coloring (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 candies 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). [ [http://www.typetive.com/candyblog/item/skittles_from_the_uk/ Skittles Ingredients] ]

The American formula, which includes the powerful preservative Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, has resulted in a skittle with an indefinite shelf life but possess a crunch and texture many people find less appealing. Fat content is also significantly higher.

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. [ [http://thetraytiger.blogspot.com/2007/12/skittles-taste-bullshit.html Skittle Weight] ]

Dietary restrictions

Skittles are not vegetarian nor Kosher in the USA as they contain gelatin. The European recipe does not contain gelatin, but contains colouring agent E120 which is derived from insects, and 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 " [http://www.koshercertification.org.uk BIR Kosher Certification ] ] 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." [http://www.kosher.org.uk/alerts.htm London Beth Din Kashrut Division ] ] Recently in Canada there have been some packages of Skittles that were mistakenly labeled as Kosher, but are not. [http://www.oukosher.org/index.php/consumer/alerts/skittles_starburst_variety_pack/ OU - The world's best known kosher trademark | Consumers | Alerts ] ]

Varieties

Original Fruit Skittles (red package)

The flavours are: [http://www.skittles.com/products/index.jsp] ]
*Lemon (yellow)
*Lime (green)
*Orange (orange)
*Strawberry (red)
*Grape (purple) Outside the United States, Grape (purple) is replaced with BlackcurrantFact|date=August 2008

In the South Korean, Armenian, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Australian versions of Original Fruit Skittles, Apple (green) replaces LimeFact|date=August 2008. Green apple replaced lime in the USA as well for a short while in 2001 as a promotional sweepstakes for consumers to decide on replacing lime with apple, the latter eventually lost outFact|date=August 2008. They were the first Skittles ever made in the United States. Fact|date=August 2008

Tropical Skittles (light blue package)

The flavors are:Fact|date=August 2008
*Mango Tangelo (orange)(a.k.a Mango Peach)
*Kiwi Lime (green)
*Strawberry Starfruit (pink)(a.k.a Strawberry Watermelon)
*Banana Berry (yellow)
*Pineapple Passionfruit (blue)(a.k.a Passion Punch)

In 1989, Tropical Skittles were introducedFact|date=August 2008. 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 boxesFact|date=August 2008.

Wild Berry Skittles (purple package)

The flavours are:Fact|date=August 2008
*Raspberry (blue)
*Wild Cherry (red)
*Strawberry (magenta)
*Berry Punch (purple)
*Melon Berry (green)

In 1990, 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.

Tart-n-Tangy Skittles

In 1990Fact|date=August 2008, Tart-n-Tangy Skittles were introduced. They were tart (like SweeTarts). The product was discontinued a few years after its introductionFact|date=August 2008. It was sold in a bright green bag.Fact|date=August 2008

our Skittles (green package)

The flavours are:Fact|date=August 2008
*Sour Blue Raspberry (blue)
*Sour Lemon (yellow)
*Sour Strawberry (red)
*Sour Orange (orange)
*Sour Grape (purple)
*Sour Green Apple (green)
*Sour Watermelon (pink)There used to be a Sour Lime flavour.Fact|date=August 2008

In Canada, the flavours are:Fact|date=August 2008
*Sour Blue Raspberry (blue)
*Sour Lemon (yellow)
*Sour Strawberry (red)
*Sour Watermelon (pink)
*Sour Green Apple (green)

In the United Kingdom, Sour Skittles contain different flavours:Fact|date=August 2008
*Sour Raspberry (pink)
*Sour Mandarin (orange)
*Sour Apple (green)
*Sour Pineapple (yellow)
*Sour Cherry (purple)

In 2000Fact|date=August 2008, Sour Skittles were introduced. These types of Skittles are coated with very sour sugar and a little citric acid crystals, and the product is sold in either bright green spiral bags or boxesFact|date=August 2008. 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 SkittlesFact|date=August 2008.

moothie Mix Skittles (peach package)

The flavours are:Fact|date=August 2008.
* Peach Pear (light green)
* Mixed Berry (pastel purple)
* Lemon Berry (light yellow)
* Strawberry Banana (light peach)
* Orange Mango (faded orange)

In 2005Fact|date=August 2008., 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 boxesFact|date=August 2008.

Ice Cream Skittles (cream/off-white package)

The flavours are:Fact|date=August 2008.
* Caramel Ripple (light brown)
* Chocolate (dark brown)
* Vanilla (beige)
* Orange Vanilla Swirl (orange)
* Strawberry (pink)

In March 2006Fact|date=August 2008, Skittles released a 'Limited Edition' Ice Cream Skittles variety. This also went along with their "Chillin' for a Million" campaignFact|date=August 2008. By late 2006 they were very difficult to find as they have been discontinuedFact|date=August 2008.

Carnival Skittles (yellow package)

The flavours are:Fact|date=August 2008
*Cotton Candy (baby blue)
*Bubble Gum (pink)
*Candy Apple (light yellow)
*Licorice (red)
*Green Slushy (green)

In October 2006 Limited Edition Carnival Skittles (also known as Unlimited Skittles) began circulatingFact|date=August 2008. It is unknown when the first production of this variety began. 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 promotionFact|date=August 2008.

In 2007 these Skittles were re-released as 'Skittles Unlimited' for a limited time in Canada and are sold in black packagesFact|date=August 2008.This variety of Skittles contains very sweet and accurate flavours causing some to liken them to Jelly Belly flavoursFact|date=August 2008. In June 2007 Carnival Skittles became available in Australia, known as Showtime flavoursFact|date=August 2008.

The flavours are:Fact|date=August 2008.
* Popcorn (light yellow)
* Jam Donut (brown red)
* Toffee Apple (green)
* Fairy Floss (pink)
* Bubblegum (baby blue)

Double Sour Skittles (green package)

The flavours are:Fact|date=August 2008
*Sour Blue Raspberry (blue)
*Sour Lemon (yellow)
*Sour Strawberry (red)
*Sour Watermelon (pink)
*Sour Green Apple (green)

In 2007, Double Sour were introducedFact|date=August 2008. 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.

Xtreme Fruit Skittles (black package)

The flavours are:Fact|date=August 2008.
* Wild Cherry (red)
* Tangerine (orange)
* Watermelon (pink)
* Blue Raspberry (blue)
* Green Apple (green)

Xtreme Fruit Skittles were introduced in 2007Fact|date=August 2008., and have the same flavours as Xtreme Fruit Skittles Bubble Gum. Xtreme Fruit is a mix of exotic fruit flavouring, and the product is sold in either black bags or boxesFact|date=August 2008.

Mint Skittles (blue package)

Mint Skittles were made in 2000Fact|date=August 2008. They came in spearmint and wintergreen. Unlike ordinary Skittles, they came in plastic containers instead of bagsFact|date=August 2008. They are hard to find, as they have been discontinuedFact|date=August 2008.

kittles Mints (green package)

The flavors were:Fact|date=August 2008
* Coolmint (blue)
* Peppermint (white)
* Toffeemint (green-brown)
* Spearmint (dark green)
* Sweetmint (Pale green)

Skittles Mints (different from Mint Skittles) are a variety of mint flavoured Skittles sold for a time in EuropeFact|date=August 2008. They were sold not in the usual bag nor in the plastic containers, but in a 55g box, deep turquoise in colourFact|date=August 2008. Skittles Mints were released in 2001Fact|date=August 2008.

Chocolate (brown package)

Chocolate Skittles were released in 1998Fact|date=August 2008. They have been discontinued as of 2001Fact|date=August 2008. They were sold in 55g bags just like M&M'sFact|date=August 2008. Although they have come back recentlyFact|date=August 2008.

The flavors were:Fact|date=August 2008
* Milk Chocolate (brown)
* Wild Chocolate (blue)
* Hot Chocolate (white,later red)
* Nutty Chocolate (tan)
* Mocha Chocolate (green)

Chocolate Mix Skittles (brown package)

The flavours areFact|date=August 2008
* S'mores (copper)
* Chocolate Pudding (auburn)
* Chocolate Caramel (brown)
* Vanilla (off-white/buff)
* Brownie Batter (dark brown/black)

Skittles "Chocolate Mix" was announced at the All Candy Expo 2007Fact|date=August 2008. The product is sold in either brown bags or boxesFact|date=August 2008. Chocolate Mix Skittles are suitable for vegans and vegetariansFact|date=August 2008. They do "not" contain gelatin or shellacFact|date=August 2008. 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-freeFact|date=August 2008.

Liquorice Skittles (black package)

The flavours were:Fact|date=August 2008.
* Black Liquorice (black)
* Liquorice Aniseed (green)
* Liquorice Spice (red)
* Liquorice Vanilla (orange)
* Liquorice Mint (white)

Liquorice Skittles were made in 1982Fact|date=August 2008. They are have been discontinuedFact|date=August 2008. They were sold in Europe in 55g boxes rather than the usual bagFact|date=August 2008.

Fresh Mint Skittles (dark green package)

Fresh Mint Skittles was the very first type of different Skittles madeFact|date=August 2008. They were released in 1977 and production ended in 2005Fact|date=August 2008.

kittles Bubble Gum (black package) and other products

In 2004Fact|date=August 2008, Original Fruit Skittles bubble gum was introduced. Later that year, Skittles introduced a product made in partnership with Lip Smackers, Skittles-flavoured lip glossFact|date=August 2008. Mint Skittles, which came in two mixes (Peppermint and Spearmint mixes) were also madeFact|date=August 2008. In 2005, Xtreme Fruit Skittles bubble gum was introducedFact|date=August 2008.

kittles Sensations

The flavours are:Fact|date=August 2008
* Chilli Berry (red)
* Juicy Orange (orange)
* Lemon Tingle (yellow)
* Sour Apple (green)
* Cool Raspberry (blue)

In 2008, Skittles Sensations were producedFact|date=August 2008. They come in dark blue bagsFact|date=August 2008.

References

External links

* [http://www.skittles.com/ Official U.S. website]
* [http://www.koshercertification.org.uk/ Kosher Certification]