April 5th is National Peep Day… But

Peeps Day is celebrated on April 5 every year.  While Peeps are usually associated with Easter — and recently with other holidays, April 5th is their day. Springtime isn’t only synonymous with April showers and the beautiful blooms, it’s also Peeps season. Everyone seems to be familiar with Peeps: those brightly colored, sugar-coated marshmallow chicks and bunnies are everywhere this time of year. Love them or hate them! It’s no surprise, though those squishy, spongy, candied confections with eyes of edible wax produced in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, have been an American Easter staple since their inception in 1953.

But-

Consumer Reports calls on Peeps manufacturer to stop using Red Dye 3 and delivers nearly 35,000 petition signatures to FDA calling for ban of dangerous food chemical .

Health warnings are being issued related to an Easter fan favorite. Certain colors of Peeps marshmallows are being linked to cancer. The artificial coloring called Red Dye No. 3 is a known carcinogen. Consumer Reports flagged nine different Peeps and other candies manufactured by Just Born Quality Confections, including pink and lavender Peeps along with Hot Tamales candy and Wildberry Marshmallow Bunnies.