FDA Officially Bans Red Dye No. 3 From Food And Drinks

A major win for food and health advocates has arrived. On Wed. (Jan. 15), the US FDA has banned the use of red dye No. 3 in food, beverages, and ingested drugs. The synthetic color additive was declared by scientists to have links to cancer in animals over 3 decades ago, and is was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risks 35 years ago.

Red dye No. 3 is largely used to give food and drinks a bright red color, and is made from petroleum and chemically known as erythrosine. According to CNN, food manufacturers must reformulate their products by Jan. 15, 2027, and drug manufacturers have until Jan. 18, 2028.

“Today’s action by FDA is long overdue, is a small step in the right direction, and hopefully signals a renewed effort by FDA to do its job despite the many barriers the food industry places in its way,” said Dr. Jerold Mande, adjunct professor of nutrition at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, via email.

The decision is the result of a November 2022 petition submitted by multiple advocacy organizations and individuals. The petition, which cited links to cancer, was spearheaded by groups like the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, and the Environmental Working Group.

“We wouldn’t be celebrating this historic decision today without the relentless leadership of public health champions like Michael Jacobson and others who took up this fight decades ago on behalf of consumers,” Ken Cook, cofounder and president of the Environmental Working Group, said in a news release.

Due to growing concerns over the last few years, various companies have already replaced red dye no. 3 in their products with natural alternatives, including “beet juice, red cabbage pigments, and carmine, a coloring made from insects,” per Newsweek.

Red dye no. 3 was commonly found in many popular candies like Jelly Belly jelly beans, Trolli Sour Crunchy Crawlers, and Dubble Bubble Original Twist Bubble Gum. It was also used in medications and supplements, like various cough syrups and vitamins.

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