US Food and Drug Administration Announce On Wednesday it effectively banned Red Dye 3, the controversial synthetic red dye found in foods and drinks that has been linked to cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is updating its regulations for color additives following a 2022 petition from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on nutrition and public health. The petition urged the FDA to review two studies indicating that exposure to Red No. 3 caused cancer in male laboratory rats.
The dye has also been linked to behavioral effects in children, including hyperactivity. the The FDA concluded “More neurobehavioral research is needed to explain the potential pathways underlying these sensitivities.” The administration advises concerned parents to check ingredient lists on labels and to speak with their family doctor.
Red No. 3, made from petroleum, was first approved for food consumption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1907. It is widely used in candy, cereals, cakes, frosting, soft drinks, and many other products in the United States, where it gives foods a cherry flavor. Vibrant. – Red color. But it is banned in many other places, including the European Union and Japan. The FDA itself banned the use of Red No. 3 in cosmetics in 1990.
This decision comes after decades of pressure from advocacy groups and lawmakers to remove the ingredient from the American food supply.
In a press release on Wednesday, the Center for Science in the Public Interest praised the change.
“Finally, the FDA is resolving the regulatory contradiction that Red 3 is illegal for use in lipstick, but is perfectly legal to feed to children in the form of candy,” said CSPI President Peter Lurie. “The primary purpose of food dyes is to make candy, drinks and other processed foods more attractive. When the function is purely aesthetic, why would we accept any risk of cancer?”
Lowry urged parents to avoid not only Red No. 3 but also all numbered dyes, such as Yellow 5 and Red 40.
“If the next administration wants to protect children’s health, it should require companies to warn parents about the risks that all synthetic dyes pose to their children — right on the package label,” Lurie said.
Manufacturers who use Red No. 3 in ingested foods and drugs must reformulate their products by January 15, 2027, according to new FDA guidance. Imported foods containing the dye will also need to comply with US regulations.