As people stock up on Halloween candy this month, they may unknowingly be buying bags of treats with a hidden danger: Red Dye 3, a carcinogen that is banned in Europe and for use in cosmetics in the U.S., according to Consumer Reports.
Some popular Halloween candy available in stores this year are manufactured using Red Dye 3, Consumer Reports said on Wednesday. The pigment, also known as Red Dye No. 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 dye will be banned in California starting in 2027.
Halloween candy with Red Dye 3
The Halloween candy that Consumer Reports identified as containing Red Dye 3 as an ingredient include:
- Brach’s Candy Corn
- Brach’s Autumn Mix
- Brach’s Mellowcreme Pumpkins
- Nerds Candy Corn
- Double Bubble bubble gum
- Pez Candy
- Amos Lollipop Rings
- Create-A-Treat Halloween House
“Parents should know that Brach’s Candy Corn, Double Bubble bubble gum, Pez and other treats their kids may bring home on Halloween are made with an ingredient that is a known carcinogen,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, in a statement. “These manufacturers should stop making products with this dangerous chemical since less risky alternatives are readily available.”
Ferrara, the owner of Brach’s, said in an emailed statement to CBS MoneyWatch that its products are safe and are manufactured 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?
The red coloring, a synthetic dye made from petroleum, creates a bright cherry-red tint in food and drinks, according to the FDA. It was banned from use in cosmetics in 1990 after evidence that it was associated with cancer in animals, the agency said.
The FDA says it allows the use of the dyes in foods because the “way that Red No. 3 causes cancer in animals, specifically rats, does not occur in humans so these animal results have limited relevance to humans.”
Ferrara added that it has been phasing out Red Dye 3 since early 2023, and that it’s on track to eliminate the food coloring from its remaining products by the end of 2026.
“In the current stage of our reformulation process, more than half of the Brach’s portfolio does not include Red No. 3,” it added.
Consumer Reports said it is urging the FDA to ban Red Dye 3 in food, dietary supplements and ingested drugs.
“Companies are moving away from using Red Dye 3, but it’s evident that we can’t depend on all of them to do the right thing,” Ronholm said. “It’s been over 30 years since the FDA banned Red Dye 3 in cosmetics after it was found to cause cancer in animals, but it’s still allowed in our food.”
