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Some Halloween candy still includes carcinogen Red Dye 3, Consumer Reports warns. Here’s a list.
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.”
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A food company known for popular grocery store condiments has recalled a package of tortilla strips that may be contaminated with wheat, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday. The product is meant to be gluten-free.
Sugar Foods, a manufacturing and distribution corporation focused mainly on various toppings, artificial sweeteners and snacks, issued the recall for the “Santa Fe Style” version of tortilla strips sold by the brand Fresh Gourmet.
“People who have a wheat allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product,” said Sugar Foods in an announcement posted by the FDA.
Packages of these tortilla strips with an expiration date as late as June 20, 2025, could contain undeclared wheat, meaning the allergen is not listed as an ingredient on the label. The Fresh Gourmet product is marketed as gluten-free.
Sugar Foods said a customer informed the company on Nov. 19 that packages of the tortilla strips actually contained crispy onions, another Fresh Gourmet product normally sold in a similar container. The brand’s crispy onion product does contain wheat, and that allergen is noted on the label.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
No illnesses tied to the packaging mistake have been reported, according to the announcement from Sugar Foods. However, the company is still recalling the tortilla strips as a precaution. The contamination issue may have affected products distributed between Sept. 30 and Nov. 11 in 22 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
Sugar Foods has advised anyone with questions about the recall to contact the company’s consumer care department by email or phone.
CBS News reached out to Sugar Foods for more information but did not receive an immediate reply.
This is the latest in a series of food product recalls affected because of contamination issues, although the others involved harmful bacteria. Some recent, high-profile incidents include an E. coli outbreak from organic carrots that killed at least one person in California, and a listeria outbreak that left an infant dead in California and nine people hospitalized across four different states, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The E. coli outbreak is linked to multiple different food brands while the listeria outbreak stemmed from a line of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products sold by Yu-Shang Foods.