Consumer Reports is asking people to put their Peeps down and pick up a (virtual) pen this Easter.Related video above: Study exposes potential risks associated with common food dyeThe nonprofit organization warns that there may be some health risks in eating Peeps, the popular animal-shaped marshmallow candies.Specifically, Consumer Reports says that purple and pink Peeps are made with Red Dye No. 3, a known carcinogen."Parents should know that the purple and pink colored Peeps they may be putting in their kids' Easter basket are made with an ingredient that is a known carcinogen," Michael Hansen, a senior staff scientist for Consumer Reports, said in a press release. "Just Born Quality Confections should stop making its iconic marshmallow treats with this dangerous food chemical since other less risky alternatives are readily available."Not only is Consumer Reports sounding the alarm about the potential health concerns, but it also started a petition to get Just Born Quality Confections (JBQC), Peeps' parent company, to stop using the ingredient.At the time of writing, the petition has over 16,000 signatures, and is looking for 20,000.In response to the Consumer Reports petition, Just Born Quality Confections issued the following statement: "FD&C Red #3 is currently an approved colorant for use in candy by the FDA. We manufacture all our candies in compliance with FDA regulations, sourcing our ingredients and packaging exclusively from reputable suppliers who adhere to high quality and safety standards. We also provide consumers with information on our packaging and our websites to help them make informed choices about our products.Our product development team is continually exploring opportunities to provide expanded options for our consumers, including colors derived from natural sources that can deliver the same visual impact and stability as their certified counterparts."In addition to the purple and pink Peeps, Red Dye 3 is found in more than 2,900 food products on the market today, according to the Environmental Working Group. That includes other JBQC products like Hot Tamales candy, Peeps Hot Tamales Marshmallow Chicks, Party Cake Peeps, Peeps Fruit Punch chicks and Peeps Wildberry bunnies.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires manufacturers to list Red Dye 3 as an ingredient on food labels.Consumer Reports has also lobbied the FDA to step in and ban the chemical compound. In October, Consumer Reports joined the Center for Science in Public Interest and several other groups to urge the FDA to ban Red Dye 3, delivering a petition to the governmental agency signed by nearly 35,000 people. While Red Dye 3 can pose a risk to people of all ages, health officials say children are particularly vulnerable because of their smaller body weight and higher levels of exposure."Red Dye No. 3 has been banned by the FDA from use in cosmetics since 1990, but inexplicably is still allowed in food," according to Hansen. "The widespread use of Red Dye 3 is particularly concerning since it is found in many products marketed to children who are especially at risk of developing health problems from exposure."