Heads up, Massachusetts residents. Several consumer action and food safety groups want to remind you that several types of candies sold across the state, from Pittsfield to Springfield to Worcester to Boston, may be linked to cancer.

It's the food additive that never seems to go away even though several watchdog groups have been harping about its potential danger for years. Yes, I'm referring to Red Dye #3.

For many years, everyone from Consumer Reports and the FDA has trumpeted the dangers of the food additive. It's a known carcinogen and it is still used in many foods. Candies, in particular. Is your favorite candy on the list?

Here are some popular candies that are in some way affected by Red #3:

1. Sixlets

Courtesy Amazon
Courtesy Amazon
loading...

Sixlets are tiny, round, candy-coated chocolate candies (almost like a teeny-tiny version of M&Ms). Among the many additives they contain, one of them is Red #3. Sixlets also contain titanium dioxide which is potentially DNA-damaging according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

2. Candy Corn

Courtesy Amazon
Courtesy Amazon
loading...

Although many people find candy corn to be quite delicious, the bottom line is that it's just not good for you. Along with Red #3, candy corn also contains Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 which can both cause sometimes-severe hypersensitivity reactions, according to Science Daily.

3. Some Varieties of Peeps

Courtesy Amazon
Courtesy Amazon
loading...

Though some may not taste very good, not all types of marshmallow Peeps contain Red #3 but if you want to be safe, stay away from the pink, purple(lavender), party cake, wild berry, fruit punch, and Hot Tamales varieties. And speaking of...

4. Hot Tamales

Courtesy Amazon
Courtesy Amazon
loading...

Personally, I love these chewy cinnamon candies, but they are just loaded with unhealthy ingredients. Every artificial coloring additive in Hot Tamales candies is potentially harmful in some way, according to Pharmacy Times.

5. Fruit By The Foot Starburst Flavor

Courtesy Amazon
Courtesy Amazon
loading...

I know, I know. You're thinking, "It's got fruit in it. It MUST be healthy", right? Not the Starburst-flavored kind. In addition to Red #3, they also contain Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6.

6. Some Varieties of Ring Pops

Courtesy Amazon
Courtesy Amazon
loading...

Again, not all Ring Pops contain Red #3. Steer clear of Berry Blast, Citrus Craze, Purpleberry Punch, Strawberry, and Very Berry. In addition, just like the Sixlets mentioned above, these select Ring Pops contain titanium dioxide.

7. Pez Candy

Courtesy Amazon
Courtesy Amazon
loading...

Pez was one of my favorites when I was a kid. As a matter of fact, I still collect the Pez dispensers, I just avoid eating the candy! Pez candies not only include Red #3, but they also contain Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6!

Incidentally, don't assume that all candy that is either red or pink contains Red #3 and therefore is automatically bad for you. Plenty of sweets that are much safer to eat include Twizzlers, Red Vines, M&Ms, and Nerds.

If you're unsure about a particular candy, remember it's always a good idea to check out the ingredients label before you make your purchase! In the meantime, Safe Eating (especially if you have a sweet tooth)!

RANKED: Here are the most popular national parks

To determine the most popular national parks in the United States, Stacker compiled data from the National Park Service on the number of recreational visits each site had in 2020. Keep reading to discover the 50 most popular national parks in the United States, in reverse order from #50 to #1. And be sure to check with individuals parks before you visit to find out about ongoing, pandemic-related safety precautions at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

Gallery Credit: Hannah Lang

See the Must-Drive Roads in Every State

Gallery Credit: Sarah Jones

LOOK: Route 66’s quirkiest and most wonderful attractions state by state

Stacker compiled a list of 50 attractions--state by state--to see along the drive, drawing on information from historic sites, news stories, Roadside America, and the National Park Service. Keep reading to discover where travelers can get their kicks on Route 66.

Gallery Credit: Kery Wiginton

LOOK: Stunning vintage photos capture the beauty of America's national parks

Today these parks are located throughout the country in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The land encompassing them was either purchased or donated, though much of it had been inhabited by native people for thousands of years before the founding of the United States. These areas are protected and revered as educational resources about the natural world, and as spaces for exploration.

Keep scrolling for 50 vintage photos that show the beauty of America's national parks.

Gallery Credit: Alexander Raeburn

More From WSBS 860AM