The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Wednesday the prohibition of the synthetic dye Red No. 3, which has been widely used in food products and beverages, due to its association with cancer development in animals. This additive, recognized for providing a bright cherry red hue, is currently found in thousands of products, including candies, cereals, cocktail cherries, and strawberry-flavored smoothies, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), an organization that requested the FDA to eliminate its use in 2022, as reported by NBC News. This decision represents a victory for consumer advocacy groups and U.S. lawmakers who have long pressured for the revocation of the approval of this dye. They cited evidence pointing to its carcinogenic risks, as well as potential negative effects on children’s behavior.
The question arises as to why Red No. 3 was banned. In an official statement cited by ABC News, Jim Jones, the deputy director of human foods at the FDA, stated: “The agency is taking steps to eliminate the authorization of FD&C Red No. 3 in ingested drugs.” According to Jones, laboratory male rats were exposed to high levels of the dye, and he emphasized that “it is important to note that this does not occur in humans.” From the information provided in the statement, manufacturers have until January 15, 2027, to reformulate their products without the dye. Companies producing ingested dietary supplements will have an additional year to comply with the new regulations.
Peter Lurie, president of CSPI, remarked that the primary purpose of food colorings is to make candies and other processed foods “more appealing,” raising the question: “If the function is purely aesthetic, why accept any cancer risk?” Since 2022, this ban has been a topic of discussion regarding food and dietary products, with the main arguments being based on evidence of a “long history” of causing thyroid issues when consumed by animals. “We are not surprised that a small amount of this chemical has been banned; they want to assure the public that the agency has been putting this in place for decades,” asserted CSPI.
Officials explained that Red No. 3 is not as prevalent compared to certified colors; however, it is primarily found in cakes, muffins, cookies, desserts, ice creams, frostings, and certain ingested medications. Experts detail on their website that there are “thousands of foods” containing this dye, including vegetarian bacon strips from MorningStar Farms, saffron yellow rice from Vigo, and some versions of Peeps cocktail, among many varieties of corn. A search conducted using the database from the U.S. Department of Agriculture FoodData Central identified 9,201 products marketed in the U.S. that contain Red No. 3, including hundreds of items manufactured by major food companies in the country.
