As of January 15, 2025, red dye No. 3 is officially banned in the United States. This decision was made by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after testing linked the chemical to cancer growth in animals.
Red No. 3, chemically known as erythrosine, was first introduced into foods in 1907. Companies subsequently added it to thousands of products to boost their colors over the decades, often in snacks like ice cream and candy marketed directly to children.
Red Dye 3, a synthetic color additive found in many candies and snacks, has been banned by the FDA due to concerns that it causes cancer.
The FDA banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 based on a petition asking that the agency follow a specific guideline.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially banned red dye — called Red 3, or Erythrosine — from foods, dietary supplements and ingested medicines, as reported on Wednesday.
Red No. 3, also known as erythrosine, is a color additive made from petroleum that gives foods and drinks a bright, cherry-red color. According to the FDA announcement, the additive is commonly ...
The FDA's ban on FD &C Red No. 3, also known as Red 3, will not go into effect until January 2027 for food products and beverages and January 2028 for consumable medications, meaning products containing Red 3 will still be on the market for the next two years.
The Food and Drug Administration said it is banning the use of Red No. 3, which is founds in over 3,000 products. Here's a list of a few items
Red Dye No. 3, also known as erythrosine, is a synthetic food dye that gives foods and drinks a bright red color. It is also sometimes used in oral medicines and dietary supplements. It first was approved for use in food in 1907. It's made from petroleum.
Red dye No. 3 was recently banned by the FDA. But what are the differences between it and the similar red dye No. 40, and what does that mean for you?
Given the ban of red dye No. 3, consumers are taking a second look at ingredients labels and they have questions. How is red dye 40 different from red dye 3?