If you haven’t heard, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently decided to ban Red Dye 3 in food. This occurred on January 15, 2025, based on the Delaney Clause. The Delaney Clause prohibits the use of cancer-causing chemicals in foods. This is exciting news, but it has taken far too long to occur. Red dye 3 was discovered to cause cancer in rats in the 1980s. Food manufacturers have until 2027 to reformulate their products without the dye.
Thanks to advocacy groups fighting this additive for years, it finally happened. This movement came from grassroots organizations led by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Center for Food Safety, the Environmental Working Group, and several other public health groups and activists who petitioned the FDA to take action on this harmful chemical in 2022.
But why didn’t this happen sooner, as it has in other countries? The European Union, Australia, and New Zealand banned artificial food dyes years ago.
First, some history.
1907 - Red dye was approved as a synthetic dye. Red dye is a petroleum product made from crude oil from which gasoline and diesel fuel derive.
1960 - Red dye 3 and 200 other color additives receive provisional approval by the FDA by the Color Additive Amendment. This meant it could be used until proven either unconditionally safe or potentially harmful.
1969 - Red dye 3 unconditionally approved for use in food and medication.
1980s - Red dye 3 in high doses (equal to 4% of their lifetime diet) was found to cause tumors in rats - primarily thyroid tumors.
1990 - FDA bans the use of red dye 3 in cosmetics and topical products but continues to allow the ingestion of this dye.
1994 - Europe bans red dye 3. An exception is made for maraschino cherries.
Although Europe banned red dye 3 in 1994, an exception was made for Maraschino cherries (pictured here), which holds to this day.
March 2011 - FDA holds a hearing on the behavioral effects of artificial food dyes, with a focus on ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). They decided not to ban these dyes or require warning labels.
2022 - Petition filed by advocacy groups requesting the FDA remove red dye 3 from its list of approved additives.
October 2023 - California bans the use of red dye 3 in foods, the first state to do so.
January 15, 2025 - FDA bans red dye 3 in food and drugs. This is almost 40 years after it was found to be cancer-causing in animals.
January 2027 - Food manufacturers must have red dye 3 removed by this date.
January 2028 - Drug manufacturers have until this date to remove the dye from all drugs.
Because this dye may still be present in food for the next 2 years, read labels to avoid it. Look for the following names:
FD&C Red No. 3
FD&C Red 3
Red 3
The four pictures above show food products containing red dye 3 - candies, including conversation hearts, colored beverages, cakes and frostings, and strawberry milk and shakes.
These products are known for containing red dye 3 (check labels)
Candies such as Valentine candy conversation hearts, candy corn, ring pops, Pez, red gummy candies, dyed marshmallow candies
Cakes, cupcakes, and frostings
Maraschino cherries
Strawberry frozen desserts
Strawberry milk
Items with red sprinkles
Fruit cocktails
Colored beverages
Protein shakes
Bacon bits, sausages, and vegetarian meats
Puddings
Now that the FDA has taken action on red dye 3, hopefully we will see more food additive bans occur more quickly. Food manufacturers already use natural food colorings in other countries for the same products they make here with artificial colorings. The pressure needs to continue on our government to prioritize the health of its citizens and not the pocketbooks of food manufacturers, to change the health crisis in this country.
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