Warning: Popular Candy Sold In New Jersey May Cause Cancer

Candy is one of the most popular treats given out to people of all ages. If you have a sweet tooth or you want a quick sugar hit, everyone has their favorite treat they reach for. But are there candies that are more unhealthy than the rest of the sweets on the shelf?

There is one ingredient in different candies that is considered the most unsafe and there are people who are trying to eliminate it from all foods permanently.  The Center for Science in the Public Interest is petitioning the Food and Drug Administration to eliminate a dangerous artificial color ingredient from all foods.

Usually labeled on foods as Red Dye 3, this ingredient has been used in foods since 1907 but was banned from Cosmetics 30 years ago.  Studies have shown that high doses of this artificial color ingredient caused cancer in animals and various amounts of Red Dye 3 have caused "Inattentiveness, Hyperactivity, and Restlessness" in children.

The Environmental Working Group research shows that over 2,900 products contain this artificial color ingredient.  The food products that contain Red Dye 3 include Strawberry Flavors of Pediasure and Ensure along with Wise Onion Rings and Dole Cherry Mixed Fruit.

Here are the Candies that contain the controversial Red Dye 3 that you should think twice about buying and consuming:

*Multiple Flavors of Fruit by the Foot
Those deep colors of Red and Purple are thanks to the addition of Red Dye 3. That artificial color ingredient can be found in many of their candies.

*Ring Pops
Flavors such as Strawberry, Cherry, and Berry Blast all contain variations of Red Dye 3. The flavors Watermelon and Blue Raspberry do not contain the controversial artificial color ingredient.

*Pez Candy
A popular candy because they are usually Peanut-Free, Pez are also a fun candy because of the dispenser. But if you want to avoid any Red Dye 3, steer clear of Pez Flavors such as Strawberry, Raspberry, Orange, and Grape.

*Candy Corn
Sorry to disappoint all of you who love this Halloween Holiday and Fall seasonal favorite, but Brach's and some other producers of Candy Corn use variations of Red Dye in their holiday candy.

*Strawberry Dubble Bubble Original 1928 Flavor
Remember when we said that versions of Red Dye 3 have been used in foods since 1907?  Well it shouldn't be a surprise that a Bubble Gum that is based on the "Original" Flavor from almost 100 years ago would contain this artificial color ingredient.

*Trolli Sour Candies
Most of these Sour Candies come in assorted flavor bags, so it is hard to only buy the ones without the controversial artificial color ingredient. Unless you can find a bag of Trolli Sour Candy that explicitly says it does not have Red Dyes in there, best bet is to steer clear if you want to avoid that ingredient.

*Peeps
For the people who enjoy these Easter Holiday and Spring Seasonal Candies should know specific types of Peeps contain Red Dyes. Those Pink and Purple Peeps have the artificial color ingredient along with certain others that are not the original Yellow ones.

*Brach's and Wegman's Assorted Jelly Beans
Yes, the name brand and the store brand both are guilty of putting this controversial artificial color ingredient into their candies. Most of the time Jelly Beans come in assorted packs so it would be tedious to pick out the ones that contain Red Dye.