These are some of the thousands of American foods and drinks that could be forced to change their recipes as soon as the FDA considers banning a cancerous ingredient.
FDA officials have signaled that they could be weeks away from banning Red 3, a synthetic chemical that gives bright red colors to candy, ice cream, and even some vegan meats.
A growing body of recent research has linked the dye to health problems such as hyperactivity in children and some forms of cancer in animals.
According to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) database, nearly 3,000 foods sold in the U.S. contain red 3.
Among the most popular are Peeps Bunnies, Cosmic Brownies, and some Cap’n Crunch cereal flavors.
But it’s not just about sweets and treats. Vegan bacon from Morning Star and Walmart’s Great Value have also 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, vibrant colors. However, research suggests that they could cause hyperactivity and cancer.
Although these foods may end up being less bright without the coloring, experts suggest they probably won’t taste much different.
Instead, Americans may perceive them as different due to their more muted 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 as sweeter than those with less dye.
and a 2010 review suggested that humans have “robust associations between flavors and colors,” as they expect foods with different colors to taste a certain way.
Bright pink, for example, indicates strawberry flavor, while participants associated the color red with cherry flavor.
This might lead people to assume that foods with natural dyes, which are less bright, might not be as sweet.
Red 3 has not been shown to alter the texture of foods.
Last week, Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, said, “With Red 3, we have before us a petition to revoke the licensing board, and we are hopeful that in the coming weeks we will be acting on that petition.” .’
Although Red 3 is banned in cosmetics, U.S. officials have long been asked to place limits on its use in food, and Europe and states such as California enact their own bans.
Robert F Kennedy Jr, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services, has also been outspoken about dyes like Red 3 causing cancer.
The EWG database generated 2,876 products with Red 3 on their ingredient labels. However, some of them, like PediaSure’s Grow and Gain shakes, have removed the dye.
The main suspects are red and pink candies, including Peeps, Brach’s Jelly Beans, Strawberry Ring Pops, and Dubble Bubble Gum.
Strawberry or “birthday cake” flavored ice creams can also contain Red 3 to make them appear bright pink and to color their vibrant sprinkles.
Great Value, Walmart brand, Birthday Cake Ice Cream, North Star Strawberry Shortcake ice cream bars, and Nerd Strawberry Flavored Bomb Pops were some of the most recognizable products found in EWG’s database.
The sprinkles on Little Debbie’s Cosmic Brownies also use Red 3 to highlight them.
But it’s not just sweets that are loaded with potentially harmful dyes.
EWG also found that some meat products such as Jack Links Beef Stick and Cheese snack also contain Red 3.
Vegan options like Morning Star Bacon also contain Red 3 to make them more like regular meat.