Trick-or-treat bags fill up fast, and a lot of Halloween candy is brightly colored. If your family prefers to skip synthetic dyes, the good news is that many everyday chocolate bars and a growing number of gummies, lollipops, and snacks have ingredient lists with no certified synthetic colors at all. This guide covers 70 candies and treats with no synthetic dyes on their current ingredient lists, including store-brand picks from Target, Whole Foods, and Costco. We also flag 17 popular ones that do contain dyes, so you know what to swap.
Read this first. “No synthetic dyes listed” means the ingredient list we checked names none of the certified (FD&C) colors, such as Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, or Red 3, and no titanium dioxide. It is not a claim about anything else. Many products here use colors from natural sources (like beet, spirulina, turmeric, or annatto); we list those word for word so you can decide. Formulas, seasonal packs, and sizes change, so check the label in your hand before you hand it out or let your child eat it.
On this page:
- Quick dye-free swaps for popular candy
- Big-brand candy with no synthetic dyes listed
- More picks by store: Target, Whole Foods, Costco, and AMC
- Natural-brand gummies, lollipops, chocolate, and snacks
- Trader Joe’s and others we’re still checking
- Popular Halloween candy that does list synthetic dyes
- How to check candy fast
- FAQ
Quick dye-free swaps for popular candy
Looking for a stand-in for a favorite that lists dyes? These are similar types of treats whose labels we checked. Details and sources are in the tables below.
- Instead of M&M’S: YumEarth Halloween Choco Yums (candy-coated chocolate colored with spirulina, turmeric, and vegetable concentrates).
- Instead of Swedish Fish: Surf Sweets Organic DelishFish or SmartSweets Sweet Fish.
- Instead of Starburst: ChocZero Halloween Fruit Chews.
- Instead of Skittles Fun Size or Sour Patch Kids: Katjes Rainbow Gummies, YumEarth Halloween Sour Littles, or SmartSweets Sour Zombie Buddies.
- Instead of dyed fruit snacks: Good & Gather Halloween Fruit Flavored Snacks (Target), Kirkland Signature Organic Fruit Snacks (Costco), or Annie’s Sour Bunnies.
Candy with no synthetic dyes listed (checked October 2026)
Each row in this section reflects the ingredient list on the source we checked on October 19, 2026. Holiday-shaped editions, “minis,” and mixed variety bags can have different ingredients, so match the exact product name and size.
Chocolate
| Product (size checked) | Colors on the ingredient list | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Reese’s Milk Chocolate Snack Size Peanut Butter Cups | None listed | Hershey |
| Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Snack Size Bars | None listed | Hershey |
| Kit Kat Milk Chocolate Snack Size Bars | None listed | Hershey |
| York Dark Chocolate Snack Size Peppermint Patties | None listed | Hershey |
| Snickers Fun Size Bars | None listed | Mars |
| Twix Caramel Fun Size Bars | None listed | Mars |
| Milky Way Fun Size Bars | None listed | Mars |
| 3 Musketeers Fun Size Bars | None listed | Mars |
| Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolate | None listed | Hershey |
| Almond Joy Snack Size Bars | None listed | Hershey |
| Heath Halloween Snack Size Bars | None listed | Hershey |
| Whoppers Malted Milk Balls | None listed | Hershey |
| Butterfinger Fun Size | Natural-source: annatto | King Soopers (retailer) |
| Tootsie Roll Midgees | None listed | Tootsie |
| Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups | None listed | Unreal |
Gummies and fruit candy
| Product (size checked) | Colors on the ingredient list | Source |
|---|---|---|
| YumEarth Assorted Flavor Gummy Bears | Natural-source: carrot, blackcurrant, apple, pumpkin, radish, lemon, paprika concentrates | YumEarth |
| SmartSweets Sweet Fish | Natural-source: fruit and vegetable juice | SmartSweets |
| Annie’s Organic Berry Patch Bunny Fruit Snacks | Natural-source: organic vegetable and fruit juice | Annie’s |
| Welch’s Fruit Snacks, Mixed Fruit | Natural-source: annatto, turmeric, fruit and vegetable juice | Welch’s Fruit Snacks |
| Skittles Original made without FD&C colors (27.5 oz pouch, sold only on Amazon)* | Natural-source: beet and grape juice concentrates, beta-carotene, spirulina extract, turmeric oleoresin. Also calcium carbonate, a mineral. | Skittles |
*This is a specific pouch. Regular Skittles in stores, including Halloween Fun Size packs, still list synthetic dyes and titanium dioxide (see below). The manufacturer page lists the colors used, not the full ingredient list, so check the pouch label.
Lollipops
| Product (size checked) | Colors on the ingredient list | Source |
|---|---|---|
| YumEarth Organic Assorted Lollipops | Natural-source: carrot, apple, blackcurrant, radish concentrates; turmeric extract | YumEarth |
| Zollipops Original Assorted Fruit | Natural-source: red beet juice concentrate, annatto extract, turmeric oleoresin, spirulina extract, blueberry juice concentrate | Zollipops |
Non-candy treats
| Product (size checked) | Colors on the ingredient list | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Annie’s Organic Cheddar Bunnies | Natural-source: organic annatto | Annie’s |
| Pirate’s Booty Aged White Cheddar (0.75 oz bag) | None listed | Hershey |
| Goldfish Colors Cheddar Crackers | Natural-source: annatto (in cheese); beet, huito, and watermelon juice concentrates; paprika and turmeric extracts | Goldfish |
More dye-free Halloween picks by store
We added these on October 21, 2026, after checking each product’s ingredient list on the brand’s site or a retailer listing (linked in the Source column). Store brands are not automatically dye-free: at Target, the Good & Gather items below list no synthetic dyes, but several Favorite Day Halloween candies do (see the dye list).
Target
| Product (size checked) | Colors on the ingredient list | Where to find it | Source (checked Oct. 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good & Gather Halloween Fruit Flavored Snacks, 32 oz / 40 ct Contains gelatin. | Natural-source: black carrot juice, spirulina extract, paprika oleoresin, carrot juice, turmeric oleoresin, beta-carotene | Target | Shipt (Target listing) |
| Good & Gather Halloween Trick-or-Treat Strawberry Fruit Strips, 24 oz / 48 ct | Natural-source: vegetable juice (carrot, cabbage) | Target | Target |
Target also carries Katjes Wild & Free and Rainbow Gummies; see Movie theaters below.
Whole Foods Market
| Product (size checked) | Colors on the ingredient list | Where to find it | Source (checked Oct. 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 365 by Whole Foods Market Halloween Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, 4.7 oz | None listed | Whole Foods | Whole Foods |
| 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Strawberry Fruit Snacks, 10 ct (0.7 oz pouches) | Natural-source: organic fruit and vegetable juice concentrate (carrot, black currant) | Whole Foods | Whole Foods |
YumEarth Halloween Organic Gummy Fruits and SmartSweets Halloween Gummy Worms (in the natural-brand tables below) are also listed at Whole Foods.
Costco
| Product (size checked) | Colors on the ingredient list | Where to find it | Source (checked Oct. 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkland Signature Organic Fruit Snacks, 72 pouches Contains gelatin. | Natural-source: black carrot juice, carrot juice | Costco | Costco label (PDF) |
Movie theaters (AMC) and Katjes gummies
Katjes, a German gummy brand, lists AMC Theatres among its U.S. retailers, and Target began carrying several Katjes gummies on September 13, 2026 (Candy Industry). Concession stock varies by theater. The 4.9 oz bags are pink, and the labels we checked list colors from fruit and vegetable juices.
| Product (size checked) | Colors on the ingredient list | Where to find it | Source (checked Oct. 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katjes Wild & Free Gummies (foam), 4.9 oz | Natural-source: vegetable juices, fruit juices | Some AMC theaters; Target | Juneau Natural (retailer) |
| Katjes Rainbow Gummies, 4.9 oz Contains wheat. | Natural-source: vegetable juices, spirulina extract, fruit juices | Target | Directions for Me (label database) |
Natural-brand Halloween candy and treats
These brands sell mostly online and at natural grocers. Each row was checked on October 21, 2026, against the brand’s own product page unless a retailer is named.
Gummies and fruit snacks
| Product (size checked) | Colors on the ingredient list | Where to find it | Source (checked Oct. 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| YumEarth Halloween Organic Gummy Fruits, 15 snack packs (7.5 oz) | Natural-source: organic apple, carrot, pumpkin, blackcurrant concentrates | YumEarth.com; Whole Foods | YumEarth |
| YumEarth Halloween Sour Littles Contains wheat (gluten-free wheat starch). | Natural-source: organic fruit and vegetable concentrates, organic spirulina | YumEarth.com | YumEarth |
| SmartSweets Halloween Gummy Worms (50 g bag) Contains gelatin. | Natural-source: fruit and vegetable juice, spirulina extract | SmartSweets.com; Whole Foods | SmartSweets |
| SmartSweets Sour Zombie Buddies | Natural-source: fruit and vegetable juice, spirulina extract | SmartSweets.com | SmartSweets |
| SmartSweets Halloween Mini Sweet Fish (minis multipack) | Natural-source: fruit and vegetable juice | SmartSweets.com | SmartSweets |
| Black Forest Halloween Juicy Burst Mixed Fruit Fruit Flavored Snacks, 16 pouches Contains gelatin. | Natural-source: fruit and vegetable juice, spirulina extract, beta-carotene | Grocery stores (via Instacart) | Instacart (retailer listing) |
| Annie’s Sour Bunnies Fruit Flavored Snacks (Halloween box), 10 pouches, 7 oz | Natural-source: organic black carrot, black currant, annatto, and turmeric extracts | Grocery stores | Hannaford (retailer) |
| Surf Sweets Organic Fruity Bears, 2.75 oz | Natural-source: organic carrot, blackcurrant, annatto, blueberry, turmeric extracts | SweetCandy.com | Sweet Candy Co. (maker) |
| Surf Sweets Organic DelishFish | Natural-source: organic carrot, blackcurrant extracts | SweetCandy.com | Sweet Candy Co. (maker) |
| Behave Sour Bears (Watermelon, Mango & Lychee), 1.8 oz Contains gelatin. | Natural-source: turmeric, fruit and vegetable juice | Natural grocers | Juneau Natural (retailer) |
| ChocZero Halloween Fruit Chews, 8 oz box (64 individually wrapped) Contains gelatin. | Natural-source: blue spirulina, beta-carotene, red radish, beet red | ChocZero.com | ChocZero |
Lollipops and sour candy
| Product (size checked) | Colors on the ingredient list | Where to find it | Source (checked Oct. 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| YumEarth Halloween Organic Lollipops, 60 ct | Natural-source: organic carrot, apple, blackcurrant, radish concentrate; organic turmeric extract | YumEarth.com | YumEarth |
| Halloween Zollipops Sugar Free Lollipops, Assorted Fruit, 5.2 oz pouch | Natural-source: annatto extract, turmeric, red beet root juice, spirulina, blueberry juice | Zollipops.com | Zollipops |
| Simply Gum Simply Sours Pouches, Halloween | Natural-source: fruit and vegetable juice | SimplyGum.com | Simply Gum |
Chocolate and peanut butter cups
| Product (size checked) | Colors on the ingredient list | Where to find it | Source (checked Oct. 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| YumEarth Halloween Choco Yums (candy-coated chocolate) | Natural-source: organic spirulina, organic turmeric extract; carrot, radish, blackcurrant, sweet potato concentrate | YumEarth.com | YumEarth |
| Unreal Halloween Dark Chocolate Variety Pack, 26 ct | None listed (on any of the pack’s items) | UnrealSnacks.com | Unreal |
| Justin’s Organic Mini Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, 4.7 oz | None listed | Grocery stores | Justin’s |
| Justin’s Organic Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups | None listed | Grocery stores | Justin’s |
| Lily’s Dark Chocolate Style Peanut Butter Cups, 1.25 oz 2-pack | None listed | Grocery stores | Lily’s |
| SkinnyDipped Halloween Variety Pack (milk and dark chocolate cups, coconut bites) | None listed | SkinnyDipped.com | SkinnyDipped |
| Free2b Bag O’ Treats (Sun Cups) | None listed | Free2bFoods.com | Free2b |
| Free2b Sunflower Butter Sun Cups Minis | None listed | Free2bFoods.com | Free2b |
| Hu Dark Chocolate Gems | None listed | HuKitchen.com | Hu |
| Tony’s Chocolonely Tiny Tony’s Milk Chocolate pouch | None listed | Tony’s Chocolonely (U.S. site) | Tony’s Chocolonely |
| Equal Exchange Organic Dark Chocolate Minis 55% (bulk bag) | None listed | Equal Exchange online shop | Equal Exchange |
| Little Secrets Dark Chocolate Mini Crispy Wafers, 60 pc | None listed | LittleSecretsChocolates.com | Little Secrets |
| Little Secrets Milk Chocolate Mini Crispy Wafers, 60 pc | None listed | LittleSecretsChocolates.com | Little Secrets |
| ChocZero Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Ghosts, 10 ct | Natural-source: beta-carotene | ChocZero.com | ChocZero |
| ChocZero White Chocolate Peanut Butter Ghosts, 10 ct | Natural-source: beta-carotene | ChocZero.com | ChocZero |
Caramels and marshmallows
| Product (size checked) | Colors on the ingredient list | Where to find it | Source (checked Oct. 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cocomels Sea Salt Coconut Milk Caramels, 3.5 oz | None listed | Cocomels.com | Cocomels |
| Dandies Pumpkin Flavored Vegan Marshmallows | Natural-source: annatto | Dandies.com; some grocery stores | Dandies |
Salty snacks and cookies
| Product (size checked) | Colors on the ingredient list | Where to find it | Source (checked Oct. 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LesserEvil Spooky Popcorn, Himalayan Pink, 18 ct | None listed | LesserEvil.com | LesserEvil |
| LesserEvil Spooky Space Balls, 18 ct | None listed | LesserEvil.com | LesserEvil |
| Pip’s Sea Salt Mini Popcorn, snack size 24 x 1 oz | None listed | PipSnacks.com | Pip’s |
| Pip’s Cheddar Cheese Balls, snack size 24 pack | Natural-source: paprika extract | PipSnacks.com | Pip’s |
| Mavericks Cheddar Sandwich Crackers, snack packs | Natural-source: annatto extract | MaverickSnacks.com | Mavericks |
| MadeGood Chocolate Chip Soft Baked Mini Cookies | None listed (the recipe includes vegetable extracts) | MadeGoodFoods.com | MadeGood |
| Partake Mini Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies (snack packs) | None listed | PartakeFoods.com | Partake |
Trader Joe’s and others we’re still checking
We couldn’t confirm a current label from the brand or a major retailer for these yet, so they’re not in the tables above. If you have one in hand, check the ingredient list yourself, or send us a photo of the label.
- Trader Joe’s Halloween Gummies (mini bags), Spooky Bats & Cats Sour Gummy Candies, Wicked Good Mini Chocolate Bars, and Halloween Joe-Joe’s
- HI-CHEW Halloween Mystery Mix stand-up pouch
- Annie’s Organic Halloween Fruit Snacks (bat and bunny shapes)
- Torie & Howard Organic Chewie Fruities Halloween snack packs
- Enjoy Life Halloween Ricemilk Crunch Minis
- That’s it. fun-size fruit bars and Spooky Fruit Bites
- Wholesome Organic Spooky Lollipops
Popular Halloween candy that does list synthetic dyes
These products’ current listings name certified colors or titanium dioxide. This isn’t a judgment about the candy; it’s just what the label says, so you can decide.
| Product | Dyes named on the listing | Source |
|---|---|---|
| M&M’S Milk Chocolate Fun Size | Blue 1, Blue 2, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 (and their Lakes) | Mars |
| Skittles Original Fun Size | Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2 (and Lakes), plus titanium dioxide | Mars |
| Starburst Original Fruit Chews (Fun Size, in the Mars Fruity Favorites mix) | Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1 | Mars |
| Reese’s Pieces | Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Blue 1 Lake | Hershey |
| Jolly Rancher Original Flavors Hard Candy | Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Yellow 6 | Hershey |
| Twizzlers Twists Strawberry | Red 40 | Hershey |
| Sour Patch Kids Original | Yellow 6, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1 | Mondelez (Snackworks) |
| Haribo Goldbears (US) | Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1 | Haribo |
| Brach’s Classic Candy Corn | Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Red 3 | Brach’s |
| Dum-Dums Original Mix | Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1 | Spangler |
| Tootsie Pops | Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1 | Tootsie |
| Swedish Fish Soft & Chewy Candy (4 oz bag) | Red 40 | Mondelez (Snackworks) |
| AirHeads Assorted Flavors | Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 6, Yellow 5 | Wegmans (retailer) |
| Sour Strips Rainbow, 3.4 oz bag | Red 40, Blue 1 (also turmeric oleoresin) | Hannaford (retailer) |
| Favorite Day Halloween Gummy Fangs, 9 oz (Target) | Red 40, plus titanium dioxide | Target |
| Favorite Day Halloween Cherry Cotton Candy Tub, 1 oz (Target) | Red 40 | Target |
| Favorite Day Fall Harvest Candy Mix Tub, 24 oz (Target) | Yellow 6, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1 (and their Lakes) | Target |
Red 3 (listed on the candy corn above) is being phased out of US food: the FDA’s revocation takes effect January 15, 2027, and California’s ban starts January 1, 2027. Products already made may still be on shelves. See our dye law tracker for details.
Variety bags are the tricky part. A Halloween mix can put a no-dye chocolate bar and a dyed fruit chew in the same bag. Each fun-size wrapper may or may not carry its own ingredient list, so check the outer bag, which lists ingredients for every item inside.
How to check candy fast
- Find the ingredient list. On a big bag it’s on the back panel. On a mixed bag, look for one list per candy.
- Scan for color names with numbers. Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, with or without “FD&C,” “No.,” or “Lake.” Our dye guide lists every name these dyes go by.
- Look for titanium dioxide too. It’s a white color additive with no number. This guide doesn’t count a candy as dye-free if it’s listed.
- Check the end of the list. Colors are usually used in small amounts, so they often sit after “Contains 2% or less of.”
- Watch for vague wording. “Color added,” “colors,” or “artificial color” can come with the specific dyes in parentheses. If no names are given and you’re unsure, set it aside and check the manufacturer’s website.
- Same steps, any label. Our guide to reading an inactive-ingredients list walks through the same scan for medicine labels.
One easy trick: sort the haul at the kitchen table into “checked” and “not checked yet” piles, and only move a candy over once you’ve read its label.
Teal pumpkin and non-food treat ideas
A teal pumpkin on your porch, part of FARE’s Teal Pumpkin Project, signals that you offer non-food treats, which welcomes kids with food allergies and works just as well for families avoiding dyes. Ideas from FARE’s list and beyond:
- Glow sticks, glow bracelets, and spider rings
- Stickers, temporary tattoos, and bookmarks
- Pencils, Halloween erasers, crayons, and mini notebooks
- Bubbles, bouncy balls, mini puzzles, and finger puppets
- Vampire fangs, whistles, and playing cards
Keep non-food treats in a separate bowl from candy. Small toys can be a choking hazard for young children, so offer age-appropriate items, and avoid things that may contain allergens, like some play doughs that contain wheat.
Get the dye-free cheat sheet
Want the dye names on one printable page for trick-or-treat sorting? Get the free cheat sheet and a short note when labels or rules change.
FAQ
Is plain chocolate candy usually dye-free?
Many plain chocolate bars and peanut butter cups we checked list no synthetic dyes, including several Hershey and Mars fun-size bars. Candy-coated chocolates are different: M&M’S and Reese’s Pieces list dyes. Always check the specific product and size.
Does “no artificial colors” mean there’s no added color?
No. Since February 2026, the FDA has allowed “no artificial colors” claims on products that have no petroleum-based colors, even if they contain colors from natural sources (FDA). Many candies in this guide are colored with things like beet, spirulina, or turmeric. They are not uncolored.
Are store-brand Halloween candies dye-free?
It depends on the product line, not the store. At Target, the Good & Gather Halloween fruit snacks and fruit strips we checked list no synthetic dyes, while Favorite Day Gummy Fangs, Cherry Cotton Candy, and Fall Harvest Candy Mix list Red 40 and other dyes. Whole Foods’ 365 and Costco’s Kirkland Signature items above also list none. Check each package.
Is Katjes candy dye-free?
The Katjes Wild & Free and Rainbow Gummies labels we checked list colors from fruit and vegetable juices (plus spirulina in Rainbow) and no synthetic dyes or titanium dioxide. Katjes is sold at some AMC theaters and at Target. Other Katjes flavors weren’t checked for this guide, so read the bag.
Does titanium dioxide count as a dye?
It isn’t one of the numbered FD&C dyes, but it is a color additive used to make candy white or brighter. Because many parents avoid it, we don’t list any product containing titanium dioxide as dye-free. Skittles Original Fun Size and Favorite Day Gummy Fangs both list it.
My bag looks different from what’s listed here. What should I trust?
The label in your hand. Companies update recipes, and seasonal, international, or club-store versions can differ. If your package doesn’t match our listing, please send us a photo of the ingredient list and we’ll re-check.
Last checked: October 2026. Original entries come from manufacturer product pages as of October 19, 2026; entries added October 21, 2026, come from the brand or retailer listing linked in each row. This guide reports what labels list. It is not medical advice and doesn’t make health claims about any product. See our methodology and medical disclaimer.
Sources
- Manufacturer and retailer product pages linked in each table row above (original rows checked October 19, 2026; added rows checked October 21, 2026)
- Skittles, Our Colors (no-FD&C 27.5 oz pouch)
- Mars, Mars Snacking U.S. releases new product options made without FD&C colors (Aug. 13, 2026)
- Candy Industry, Katjes USA debuts first Jake Shane co-created candy (Sept. 21, 2026)
- FDA, FDA Takes New Approach to “No Artificial Colors” Claims (Feb. 5, 2026)
- FDA, Color Additives Questions and Answers for Consumers
- FARE, About the Teal Pumpkin Project and Ideas for Non-Food Treats