Salt River Tubing bans marshmallows, citing littering issues

MESA, Ariz. - Salt River Tubing is ending a local tradition of throwing marshmallows after authorities reported finding an "excess amount" of them in the water.

Officials announced that the sweet treat would be prohibited starting July 29.

"We’ve heard that local law enforcement will start enforcing criminal littering," Salt River Tubing wrote in a Facebook post. "Throwing marshmallows falls under it. With that news, we don’t want a guest subject to a citation and day ruined for something they didn’t realize or thought was innocent fun."

Officials say they won't be allowed on buses and Salt River Tubing property, but it's still unclear how or when the rule would be enforced by the Forest Service.

Nobody seems to know how it began, but it's a tradition for some to throw marshmallows at other tubers with mentions of the practice dating back to 2000.

"I’ve never really understood why, but you bring marshmallows," said Jan Sexton, a tuber. "The bigger the better, and then throw them at each other people you know people you don’t know."

Native species were spotted eating the sugary snack.

"Saw a bunch of marshmallows floating down, and the birds would come by pick them up, eat them," said a man visiting the river.

According to Peter Hill, lead supervisor for Salt River Tubing, many customers didn't like the marshmallows, and the move protected tubers from liability.

"We just want to do what’s best for the community and what’s best for Tonto National Forest," Hill said.