FDA Bans Red No. 3 in Foods and Ingested Drugs
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is banning the use of Red No. 3—a synthetic dye linked to cancer in animal studies—in food, dietary supplements, and oral medications. Food manufacturers have until January 2027 to remove the dye, while producers of ingested drugs have until January 2028. The decision follows a successful petition by consumer advocates who argued that Red No. 3, also known as erythrosine or FD&C Red No. 3, violates the Delaney Clause—a federal law that prohibits food additives found to cause cancer in humans or animals. More than 9,200 products currently use the cherry-red dye, ranging from candy and snack cakes to maraschino cherries.
FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones says the ban is justified by evidence of cancer in male lab rats exposed to high levels of Red No. 3. However, the agency acknowledges that the mechanism causing cancer in rats does not appear to affect humans, a stance that previously allowed its continued use in foods even after it was blocked in cosmetics in 1990. Consumer groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, call the ban “long overdue,” though it remains unclear if food manufacturers will contest the ruling in court. Recent polling suggests broad public support for removing artificial dyes, especially among college-educated and higher-income Americans.
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