Red No. 3, a synthetic dye frequently used to give a brilliant, cherry-red hue to a variety of consumable products, has been banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Concerns over the dye’s possible health hazards, including connections to cancer seen in animal research, led to this decision, which was made public on January 15, 2025.
Products Affected
Erythrosine, sometimes referred to as Red No. 3, is a common food and beverage additive. The Environmental Working Group claims that this dye is included in over 2,000 goods that are sold in the United States. Notable instances consist of:
Candies: Ring Pops, Pez, Brach’s candy corn, and Valentine’s Day candies like Brach’s conversation hearts.
Desserts: Red-sprinkled cupcakes and cakes, Safeway’s Select peppermint and Kroger’s Neapolitan ice cream flavors, Nerds Bomb Pops, and cookies with red sprinkles, such as Walmart’s Freshness Guaranteed heart sugar cookies and frosted circus animal cookies.
Other foods and snacks include Vigo yellow rice, Betty Crocker pasta salads with imitation bacon pieces, Jack Link’s beef and cheddar sticks, Nesquik strawberry-flavored low-fat milk, and canned fruits in fruit juice, including Publix mixed fruit.
Timeline for Implementation
Manufacturers have been given a deadline by the FDA to rework their products. Pharmaceutical businesses have until January 18, 2028, to remove Red No. 3 from swallowed medications, while food manufacturers have until January 15, 2027, to remove the dye from their products. The goal of this gradual strategy is to make the transition easier for customers and manufacturers alike.
Health Issues and the Regulatory Context
The prohibition comes after advocacy organizations filed a petition in 2022 pointing to research showing that excessive dosages of Red No. 3 caused cancer in male lab rats. Although the FDA admits that the carcinogenic effects seen in rats may not necessarily apply to humans, the ruling is consistent with the Delaney Clause, which forbids the use of chemicals that have been shown to cause cancer in either humans or animals.
Notably, Red No. 3 was previously prohibited from cosmetics by the FDA in 1990 because of comparable health risks. Nevertheless, until this recent decision, it was still used in food and oral treatments. The dye has been outlawed internationally in nations like China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.