Hello, I'm an expert in the field of food science and technology. Let's address your question about the composition of M&M's.

M&M's are a popular candy produced by Mars, Incorporated. They are not made out of beetles. The primary ingredients in M&M's are sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, milk, and various other ingredients depending on the specific color or flavor. However, there is a common misconception about a substance called carmine, which is sometimes used in the food industry and is derived from a particular type of beetle called the cochineal insect.

Carmine is a red coloring that can be found in some products, and it has been used in the past in certain versions of M&M's to achieve a vibrant red color. However, Mars, Incorporated has reformulated their M&M's in the United States to be carmine-free, addressing concerns from consumers about the use of insect-based ingredients.

In summary, while M&M's do not contain beetles, they did at one point use a red dye derived from beetles in some versions. This has since been changed, and the M&M's produced in the U.S. are now free of this ingredient.

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First off, it is an urban legend. M & M's outer candy shells are made from sugar and corn syrup, nothing more, nothing less. The candies are highly buffed by a process that gives them the look of having a shellac covering. The tasty centers are made from a mix of whole milk, cocoa butter, sugar and chocolate liquor.read more >>