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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Wednesday (January 15) that it is banning Red No. 3, a synthetic dye used in many foods and beverages, due to its links to cancer in animals. This decision follows a petition by advocacy groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, urging the FDA to revoke the dye's approval. Red No. 3, chemically known as erythrosine, is made from petroleum and gives products a bright cherry-red color. It is found in items such as candy, cereals, and strawberry-flavored milkshakes.
The FDA's ban marks a significant victory for consumer advocacy groups and lawmakers who have long pushed for the removal of the dye, citing evidence that it may cause cancer and affect children's behavior. The FDA had previously banned Red No. 3 in cosmetics in 1990 after studies showed it caused tumors in male rats. Food manufacturers have until January 15, 2027, to reformulate their products, while companies making ingested drugs have an additional year.
Some U.S. states, including California, have already taken steps to ban the dye. The dye is already banned or restricted in countries like Australia, Japan, and those in the European Union. Despite the ban, the FDA stated that there is no conclusive evidence linking Red No. 3 to cancer in humans. However, the Delaney Clause prohibits the FDA from approving any color additive that causes cancer in animals or humans.
The FDA's decision is seen as a step towards aligning U.S. food safety standards with those of the European Union, which banned the dye in 1994. The move is also expected to prompt further scrutiny of other artificial dyes used in food products.