WASHINGTON (TNND) — The Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that it is amending its color additive regulations to no longer allow the use of Red No. 3 in any food, beverage, or ingested drug.
The FDA has said it has been actively considering approval of Red No. 3 for years, ever since a petition was filed by a coalition of organizations pointing to Red No. 3’s potential cancer risks and effects on children. Ta.
Nora Demers, a biology expert at Florida Gulf Coast University, and Francisco Diez, a food science expert at the University of Georgia, agree that banning Red No. 3 from all foods is a step in the right direction. He said he agreed.
“This is definitely a positive move,” Demers said.
“From a public health perspective, I would say, yes, it’s a good measure,” Diez added.
Red No. 3 is a synthetic dye that gives foods and beverages a bright cherry red color. It is usually found in sweets and some drugs such as acetaminophen.
“All kinds of ultra-processed foods are being sold in bright colors to appeal to children,” Demers said.
Jamie Allan, a toxicology expert at Michigan State University, says there’s no need to panic. If you have food that contains Red No. 3, there is no need to throw it all away.
“Just consume what you have and you’ll be fine,” Alan said.
This dye, made from petroleum, was approved for use in food in 1907. But Allan said advocacy groups have been fighting for years to revoke that recognition.
“Red Dye No. 3 has serious health concerns, along with a potential cancer risk, while also potentially causing behavioral problems, especially in children,” Alan said.
Alan said the dye is now banned, but other synthetic dyes such as Red No. 40 are still allowed to be used. That’s why she hopes Wednesday’s news will lead to deeper conversations.
“Either ban synthetic dyes completely or ban synthetic dyes to a greater extent,” Allan said.
The FDA has given food manufacturers until January 15, 2027 to remove all Red No. 3 from their products. Dietary supplements are given an additional one-year grace period. Some states, including California, have already enacted bans.
