As a food science expert with extensive knowledge in the ingredients and production processes of various confectionery items, I can confidently address the question about the composition of Skittles.

Skittles are a popular brand of fruit-flavored candies produced by the Wrigley Company, a division of Mars, Incorporated. The primary ingredients in Skittles include sugar, corn syrup, modified corn starch, and various fruit flavors and colors. There is a common misconception that Skittles are made out of insects, which is not true. The confusion might arise from the fact that a specific type of red dye, Red Dye 40, used in some candies, is sometimes derived from a cochineal insect. However, not all Skittles products use this dye, and the production of Skittles does not involve the use of insects as an ingredient.

To summarize, Skittles are not made out of bugs. They are made with sugar, corn syrup, and other ingredients that are standard in the candy industry.

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Carmine is a red dye used to create the red Skittles. Carmine is harvested from the cochineal scale insect. Shellac is a wax secreted by the lac insect, Kerria lacca. ... Since 2009, Skittles have been produced without the gelatin and the shellac.read more >>