A golden-colored candy sold in several U.S. states faces recall after testing revealed it contains a banned industrial dye linked to cancer.
Blooming Import Inc., based in New York, pulled its 10-ounce Golden Crop Candy from shelves after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed the presence of Acid Red 18. The synthetic dye, prohibited in American food products, typically colors leather, plastics, and cosmetics.
The candy recall affects both wrapped and unwrapped candies marked with product codes 73476513450 and 734765134587. The FDA reports that 74 cases reached stores in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Delaware, and Texas. The number of individual bags remains unclear.
Tests also detected Blue 1 and Red 40 in the product — dyes that the FDA approves for use in food. However, Blooming Import failed to include these on the label, violating federal requirements. The FDA has classified the recall as Class II, meaning the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health effects.
Acid Red 18 has attracted increasing scrutiny due to research linking it to cancer, hyperactivity, and other health problems in animal studies. Several European countries have banned the dye or required warning labels on foods that contain it.
The U.S. has begun addressing the issue. The FDA recently ordered companies to remove Red 3 from food products by 2027 and from medications by 2028. Red 3 has shown links to cancer in laboratory tests.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to announce a broader initiative to restrict petroleum-based food dyes during a press conference later today. His proposal targets additives including Blue 1, Red 40, and Yellow 6 — ingredients that still appear in snacks, cereals, and sodas across the U.S.
Advocates argue that artificial food dyes contribute to public health issues and encourage overconsumption. Natural alternatives already replace synthetic dyes in products sold across Europe.
Consumers who experience adverse effects or wish to report a product violation can contact the FDA through its consumer complaint system.
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