There are thousands of American foods and drinks that could be forced to change their recipes soon, as the FDA considers a ban on Red 3, a synthetic chemical that gives candy, ice cream, and even some vegan meats their bright red color. A growing body of recent research has linked the dye to health issues like hyperactivity in children and some forms of cancer in animals. Nearly 3,000 foods sold in the U.S. contain Red 3, including Peeps, Cosmic Brownies, and some flavors of Cap’n Crunch cereal. However, it’s not just candy and sweets; vegan bacon from Morning Star and Walmart’s Great Value have also been found to contain the dye. Even popular milks and shakes like Nesquick and Ensure have the dye in their ingredient labels. 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 also contain Red 3 to help them look bright pink and to color their vibrant sprinkles. In addition, the sprinkles on Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies use Red 3 to make them stand out. Though these products may end up being less bright without the dye, experts suggest that they likely won’t taste much different, though Americans may perceive them to because of their more dulled colors. Red 3 has not been shown to alter food texture or taste.
