Peeps Agree to but Delay Removal of Deadly Red Dye Number 3 Chemical Linked to Cancer
They’re seen all over New Jersey every Spring, and parents buy them for their kids to enjoy. It’s an Easter tradition that goes back long before many of us were little kids eating this sugary holiday treat. It was back in 1953 that they were first introduced. According to foodnetwork.com there have been multiple versions, styles, and flavors of the candy staple through the years.
What’s the Problem
I’m talking about Peeps, and recently we have learned that there’s an ingredient used to produce them that causes cancer. As reported by Consumer Reports earlier this year, “the purple and pink Peeps candies popular this time of the year for Easter are made with red dye number three, a known carcinogen.” Peeps says they will change they way they produce them after new California legislation banned certain food additives, including the chemical in question that’s used to color some of their marshmallow birdies.
What’s Being Done
When Peeps return to grocery stores after this Easter, they will no longer contain the red color number three. which will be outlawed in California in 2027. Many believe it should be outlawed in every state. Why would anyone continue to create, purchase, or consume a product that is known to cause cancer?
Consumer Reports requested that Peeps maker, Just Born remove the ingredient faster from their bird-shaped marshmallow Easter treats. Just Born told Consumer Reports that only pink and lavender Peeps will contain the dye in 2024. Consumer Reports stated that 30,000 people petitioned Just Born to cease using red dye number three in all Peeps.
This is Nothing New
“For decades, the FDA has been aware of multiple studies showing that Red Dye 3 can cause cancer in animals. Several studies have linked some artificial food dyes, including Red Dye 3, to hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral effects in children. While Red Dye 3 poses risks to people of all ages, young children may be the most vulnerable because of their small body weight and higher levels of exposure.”
If you’re concerned about the chemical simply check the package. Red dye number three will be listed in the ingredients.
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