Iconic Easter Candy Contains ‘Cancer-Causing’ Dye

A new consumer report revealed disturbing news about an iconic Easter candy. Peeps manufacturer, Just Born, is facing criticism for the use of Red Dye 3 in several of its candies.

Red Dye 3, a known carcinogen, has been banned by the FDA from use in cosmetics but not food. Although food chemicals, including Red Dye 3, have been linked to serious health problems including “high risk of cancer, nervous system damage, hyperactivity, and other behavioral problems,” Consumer Reports stated in a press release.

Senior staff scientist for Consumer Reports, Michael Hansen, PhD, warned parents that candy they might be putting in their kids’ easter baskets are made with a cancer-causing ingredient.

Products containing Red Dye 3 include: Peeps Pink Marshmallow Chicks, Peeps Pink Marshmallow Bunnies, Peeps Lavender Marshmallow Chicks and Peeps Lavender Marshmallow Bunnies, Hot Tamales candy, Peeps Hot Tamales Marshmallow Chicks, Party Cake Peeps, Peeps Fruit Punch Marshmallow Chicks and Peeps Wildberry Marshmallow Bunnies, according to Consumer Report. 

Just Born Quality Confections defended its choice to use Red Dye 3 in its products in an email to Fox News Digital on Monday, stating the dye is approved by the FDA for coloring use in candy. “We manufacture all our candies in compliance with FDA regulations, sourcing our ingredients and packaging exclusively from reputable suppliers who adhere to high quality and safety standards,” the company said.

Just Born also mentioned that consumers are always provided with information about its products on packaging and its websites to “help them make informed choices about products.”