Texas Popular Candies And Sweets May Discontinue Due To Cancer Risk

According to NBC News, some of the most indulgent comfort foods you’ve enjoyed in Texas might soon be hard to find due to cancer risks. The FDA, or Food and Drug Administration, is considering banning artificial red food dye, commonly found in beloved beverages, snacks, and cereals that many of us grew up with in this great state.

WHAT IS RED 3 AND WHY IS IT SO DANGEROUS?

This raises an important question: why would the FDA target something that seems so trivial? Red 3, also known as erythrosine, is a petroleum-based dye that has been part of our food for over fifty years. Despite the FDA banning its use in cosmetics and common medications in 1990 after studies showed it could cause cancer in rats, it's still allowed in many foods we consume daily which is just crazy talk in my opinion.

WHAT OTHER FOODS CONTAIN RED 3?

California has already prohibited this dye in food products, but Texans are left wondering how such a seemingly minor ingredient can be so dangerous. The answer is straightforward: it has been linked to cancer, specifically thyroid cancer, which can be life-threatening if not addressed. Red 3 can be found in various items, including food, cocktails, ice pops, sausages, vegetarian meats, bacon bits, cakes, and baked goods, as well as in some of our favorite holiday treats, though thankfully, Skittles and M&Ms have stopped using this dye. I have always believed that you are what you eat, and being vigilant about reading labels is more crucial now than ever in Texas.