These are some of the thousands of American food and drinks that could be forced to change their recipes soon as the FDA mulls a ban on a cancerous ingredient.
FDA officials have signaled they could be weeks away from outlawing Red 3, a synthetic chemical that gives candy, ice cream, and even some vegan meats bright red colors.
A growing body of recent research has linked the dye to health issues like hyperactivity in children and some forms of cancer in animals.
According to a database from watchdog Environmental Working Group (EWG), nearly 3,000 foods sold in the US contain Red 3.
Among the most popular are Peeps bunnies, Cosmic Brownies, and some flavors Cap’n Crunch cereal.
But it’s not just candy and sweets. Vegan bacon from Morning Star and Walmart’s Great Value also have been found to contain Red 3.
And even popular milks and shakes like Nesquick and Ensure have the dye on their ingredient labels.
Dyes like Red 3 are used to give candies their bright and vibrant colors. However, research suggests they could cause hyperactivity and cancer
Though these foods may end up being less bright without the dye, experts suggest that they likely won’t taste much different.
Instead, Americans may perceive them as different due to their more dulled colors.
One study, for example, found that when participants were given two drinks with different amounts of dye, most people rated the drinks with more dye sweeter than the ones with less dye.
And a 2010 review suggested that humans have ‘robust associations between tastes and colors,’ as they expect foods with distinct colors to taste a certain way.
Bright pink, for example, signals strawberry flavoring, while participants associated red coloring with cherry flavors.
This could lead people to assume that foods with natural coloring, which are less bright, might not be as sweet.
Red 3 has not been shown to alter food texture.
Last week, Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, said: ‘With Red 3, we have a petition in front of us to revoke the authorization board, and we’re hopeful that in the next few weeks we’ll be acting on that petition.’
Though Red 3 is prohibited in cosmetics, US officials have long been called to put limits on it in food, with Europe and states like California enacting their own bans.
Robert F Kennedy Jr, President-Elect Donald Trump’s choice for secretary of Health and Human Services, has also been outspoken dyes like Red 3 causing cancer.
The EWG database generated 2,876 products with Red 3 listed on their ingredient labels. However, some of these, like PediaSure’s Grow and Gain shakes, have removed the dye.
The prime suspects are red and pink candies, including Peeps, Brach’s Jelly Beans, strawberry Ring Pops, and Dubble Bubble chewing gum.
Strawberry or ‘birthday cake’ flavored ice creams can also contain Red 3 to help them look bright pink and to color their vibrant sprinkles.
Great Value, Walmart’s brand, Birthday Cake Ice Cream, North Star Strawberry Shortcake ice cream bars, and Nerd Strawberry flavorted Bomb Pops were some of the most recognizable products found on EWG’s database.
The sprinkles on Little Debbie’s Cosmic Brownies also use Red 3 to make them stand out.
But it’s not just sweets that are loaded with potentially harmful dyes.
EWG also found that some meat products like Jack Links Beef Stick and Cheese snack also contain Red 3.
Vegan choices like Morning Star bacon also contain Red 3 to help them look more like regular meat.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk