What's in Unreal Gems vs M&M's? Beet Juice vs Red 40

Unreal Milk Chocolate Gems are colored with turmeric, beet juice and spirulina extract, while M&M's Milk Chocolate lists five FD&C dyes: Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1 and Blue 2, each in dye and lake forms. Both list 140 calories per label serving; Unreal lists 11 g added sugar and 8 g total fat per 30 g, and M&M's lists 17 g added sugar and 5 g total fat per 28 g.

Key takeaways

• Unreal's ingredient list names turmeric, beet juice, and spirulina extract as colorings. M&M's Milk Chocolate lists Blue 1, Blue 2, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 in dye and lake forms.
• Per serving, Unreal lists 11 g added sugar and 8 g total fat (30 g serving). M&M's lists 17 g added sugar and 5 g total fat (28 g serving). Both list 140 calories.
• The FDA lists the five FD&C dyes as color additives subject to batch certification. Turmeric, vegetable juice, and spirulina extract are among the color additives exempt from certification.
• Serving sizes differ (30 g vs 28 g), so compare grams per serving alongside % Daily Value, and check the package you buy for the current label.

Unreal vs M&M's at a Glance: Per-Serving Label Facts

Unreal Milk Chocolate Gems list 140 calories, 11 g of added sugar, and 8 g of total fat per 30 g serving, while M&M's Milk Chocolate lists 140 calories, 17 g of added sugar, and 5 g of total fat per 28 g serving.

Factor	Unreal Milk Chocolate Gems	M&M's Milk Chocolate
Serving size	30 g	28 g (about 32 pieces)
Calories	140	140
Added sugar	11 g (22% DV)	17 g (34% DV)
Total fat	8 g (10% DV)	5 g (6% DV)
Colorings	Turmeric, beet juice, spirulina extract	Blue 1, Blue 2, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 (dye and lake forms)

Unreal Milk Chocolate Gems vs M&M's: Which Colorings Are on the Label?

Unreal's ingredient list names turmeric, beet juice, and spirulina extract as colorings. M&M's Milk Chocolate's ingredient list names five FD&C dyes in dye and lake forms.

Unreal's brand page lists the ingredients as milk chocolate, organic cane sugar, gum acacia, colored with turmeric, beet juice, and spirulina extract, organic tapioca syrup, and carnauba wax. The page also uses the phrases 'no artificial dyes' and 'Colored by nature.'

The M&M's ingredient list, as recorded on Open Food Facts, includes a coloring line with Blue 1 Lake, Yellow 6, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Yellow 6 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, and Blue 2. That is five distinct dyes, each appearing in dye and lake form.

Are Unreal Milk Chocolate Gems Colored With Red 40 or Other Synthetic Dyes?

No; the Unreal ingredient list on its brand page names turmeric, beet juice, and spirulina extract as colorings, with no FD&C dye listed (30 g serving).

The brand page uses the wording 'no artificial dyes.' That is the brand's own description and is not a regulatory classification. The printed label on the package you are holding is the reference for the version you have.

Do M&M's Milk Chocolate Have Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, and Blue 2?

Yes; the Open Food Facts record for M&M'S Milk Chocolate lists Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, and Blue 2, each in dye and lake forms, for a 28 g (about 32 piece) serving.

The FDA's color-additive summary lists FD&C Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Yellow No. 6 as color additives subject to batch certification. The Skittles vs M&M's: Which Has More Dyes? Both Use the Same 5 comparison looks at the same five dyes in a different candy.

What Are Unreal Gems Colored With: Turmeric, Beet Juice, and Spirulina Extract?

Unreal's brand page lists turmeric, beet juice, and spirulina extract as the colorings in its milk chocolate gems.

The FDA's color-additive summary lists spirulina extract, turmeric, and vegetable juice among the color additives exempt from certification. This article describes that regulatory status only and does not add health claims about any of these colorings.

Is Unreal Candy Healthy? Added Sugar and Fat Side by Side

The label facts do not establish whether either candy is healthy; Unreal lists 11 g added sugar and 8 g total fat per 30 g serving, while M&M's lists 17 g added sugar and 5 g total fat per 28 g serving.

The Nutrition Facts panel is the best place to compare the numbers that matter to you, including added sugar, total fat, saturated fat, sodium, and calories per serving. This page does not rank either product.

How Much Added Sugar Is in Unreal Gems Compared With M&M's Milk Chocolate?

Unreal Milk Chocolate Gems list 11 g of added sugar per 30 g serving, while M&M's Milk Chocolate lists 17 g per 28 g serving, which is about 32 pieces.

• Unreal: 11 g added sugar, 22% Daily Value, 14 g total sugars, 30 g serving (35 pieces).
• M&M's: 17 g added sugar, 34% Daily Value, 18 g total sugars, 28 g serving (about 32 pieces).

The FDA sets the Daily Value for added sugars at 50 grams per day. Under the FDA's convention, 5% DV or less is considered low and 20% DV or more is considered high. Serving sizes differ slightly, so compare the per-serving grams alongside the percentages. The FDA's guidance on added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label explains how these values are presented.

How Much Fat Is in Unreal Gems Compared With M&M's Milk Chocolate?

Unreal lists 8 g of total fat per 30 g serving, while M&M's Milk Chocolate lists 5 g per 28 g serving, with both listing 140 calories.

• Total fat: Unreal 8 g (10% DV), M&M's 5 g (6% DV).
• Saturated fat: Unreal 4.5 g (23% DV), M&M's 3.5 g (18% DV).
• Trans fat: 0 g for both.
• Protein: Unreal 3 g, M&M's 1 g.

The two products also differ in other ingredients. M&M's lists soy lecithin and lactose, while Unreal lists sunflower lecithin and inulin. Unreal's label states that it contains milk and is made in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and wheat. The allergen statement for M&M's is not disclosed in the label data available here, so check the package for it.

How Do You Spot These Colorings and Sugar Amounts on a Label?

Look for the coloring line in the ingredients list and the 'Includes Added Sugars' line in the Nutrition Facts panel. Those two lines answer most of the questions in this comparison.

• In the ingredients list, check for named FD&C dyes such as Red 40 or Blue 1, including 'Lake' forms.
• Check for natural colorings such as turmeric, beet juice, or spirulina extract.
• In the Nutrition Facts panel, find the serving size first, since grams per serving differ between products.
• Compare 'Includes Added Sugars' in grams and % Daily Value, not total sugars alone.
• Note saturated fat and total fat separately, since both appear on the panel.

Package versions can differ, so the printed label on the package you are holding is the reference. The Color Added vs Named Colors: 6 Scanned Labels Without FD&C Dyes guide walks through how colorings appear in real label text.

Are Turmeric, Beet Juice, and Spirulina Colorings Subject to the Same Rules?

The FDA's color-additive summary classifies turmeric, vegetable juice, and spirulina extract as color additives exempt from batch certification. The five FD&C dyes in M&M's are color additives subject to batch certification.

The FDA classification describes how each group is listed, and this article uses that classification only. It does not make health claims for any coloring.