As people stock up on Halloween candy this month, they may unknowingly purchase bags of treats containing a hidden danger: Red Dye 3, a carcinogen banned in Europe and for use in restaurants. cosmetics in the United States, according to Consumer Reports.
Some popular Halloween candy available in stores this year is made from Red Dye 3, Consumer Reports announced Wednesday. This pigment, also known as red dye #3, has been shown to cause cancer in animals, and some studies have linked it and other artificial food dyes to hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral effects in children, the nonprofit consumer advocacy group said.
The coloring will be banned in California from 2027.
Halloween candy with red dye 3
Halloween candies identified by Consumer Reports as containing red dye 3 as an ingredient include:
- Brach’s Candy Corn
- Brach’s Autumn Blend
- Brach’s Fluffy Cream Pumpkins
- Candy corn nerds
- Double Bubble Bubble Gum
- Pez candy
- Amos Pacifier Rings
- Halloween house to create a treat
“Parents need to know that Brach’s Candy Corn, Double Bubble gum, Pez and other treats their children can take home on Halloween are made with a known carcinogen ingredient,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, in a statement. “These manufacturers should stop making products containing this dangerous chemical because less risky alternatives are readily available.”
Ferrara, the owner of Brach’s, said in an emailed statement to CBS MoneyWatch that his products are safe and made with ingredients approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
“Ferrara complies with all laws and regulations related to our products and will continue to do so in the future,” the company said.
What is red dye 3?
Red coloring, a petroleum-based synthetic dye, creates a bright cherry red hue in foods and beverages, according to the FDA. Its use in cosmetics was banned in 1990 after it was shown to be associated with cancer in animals, the agency said.
The FDA states that it allows the use of dyes in foods because “the way Red No. 3 causes cancer in animals, particularly rats, does not occur in humans, so These animal findings have limited relevance to humans.”
Ferrara added that it has been phasing out Red Dye 3 since early 2023 and is on track to eliminate food coloring from its remaining products by the end of 2026.
“At the current stage of our reformulation process, more than half of Brach’s portfolio does not include Red No. 3,” he adds.
Consumer Reports said it is urging the FDA to ban Red Dye 3 from ingested foods, dietary supplements and medications.
“Companies are phasing out Red Dye 3, but obviously we can’t count on all of them to do the right thing,” Ronholm said. “It’s been more than 30 years since the FDA banned Red Dye 3 in cosmetics after it was found to cause cancer in animals, but it is still allowed in our food.”
