The Food and Drug Administration has officially revoked its approval for Red No. 3 as a color additive in food products, responding to concerns raised about its potential health effects. The decision follows a petition highlighting studies linking the dye to cancer in laboratory animals. While the FDA stresses that Red No. 3 doesn't pose the same cancer risk to humans at typical consumption levels as it does to rats in high doses, the move reflects a growing trend toward stricter food safety standards.
Food manufacturers now have until January 15, 2027, to eliminate Red No. 3 from their food products. Pharmaceutical companies face a slightly later deadline, January 18, 2028, to remove the dye from medications, including certain antidepressants and acetaminophen formulations. These regulations also apply to imported foods.
Although not as prevalent as some other artificial food dyes, Red No. 3 remains present in thousands of food items. Consumers should be aware that brightly colored processed foods, such as candies, sodas, protein shakes, and even bacon bits, may contain the dye. Common products like Strawberry Ensure and Vigo's Yellow Rice have also been known to use it. Check ingredient lists for "Red No. 3" or "erythrosine" to identify its presence.
This federal action comes amid increasing state-level efforts to ban the controversial additive. California's Food Safety Act, passed in 2023, already prohibits the sale of foods containing Red No. 3, along with brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, and propylparaben. This law is set to take effect in 2027. Notably, these four additives are already banned in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries.
Following California's lead, numerous other states, including New York, West Virginia, and South Dakota, have introduced similar food safety bills aimed at banning Red No. 3 in food and beverage products. This reflects a growing public and legislative concern about the potential health risks associated with certain food additives.
Red No. 3 was previously used in cosmetics like lipstick and blush, but the FDA banned its use in these products in the 1990s. The recent decision to ban it in food closes what some consider a regulatory inconsistency. As the president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest aptly stated, it ends the "regulatory paradox" of allowing Red No. 3 in children's candy while prohibiting its use in lipstick.