Red No. 3, an additive that is often used in food and drinks to create a bright red color, has been officially banned by the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA is amending its color additive regulations, it announced Wednesday. It will no longer allow the use of the artificial dye in food and ingested drugs.
The removal is a result of a color additive petition filed in 2022 by people who claim the additive is linked to cancer and behavioral problems in children.
Manufacturers who use Red No. 3 in food will have until Jan. 15, 2027, to reformulate their products, while those who use the dye in drugs will have until Jan. 18, 2028, according to the FDA announcement. Food imported into the U.S. will also be required to comply with the new regulations.
What is Red No. 3 and what’s on the Red Dye Food list
Red No. 3, also known as erythrosine, is a color additive made from petroleum that gives foods and drinks a bright, cherry-red color. Is it commonly used in candy, cakes, cupcakes, frozen desserts, frostings and icing and certain ingested drugs.
More than 3,000 products have Red No. 3 as an ingredient according to the Environmental Working Group.
In 1990, Red No. 3 was banned from being used in cosmetics in the United States based on evidence it is carcinogenic at high doses to lab rats. Nevertheless, it has remained one of nine synthetic dyes approved for use in food products.
The eight other dyes that are still in use are Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Orange B, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and Citrus Red − all used to give food, drinks and ingested drugs bright colors.
Is Red No. 3 banned in other countries?
Red No. 3 has been largely banned in the European Union, Australia and New Zealand
Source: USAToday
More:RedNote, is it the alternative app for TikTok users? What to know
