The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering a ban on the artificial food coloring Red Dye No. 3, a move that could impact thousands of food products in the country.
The synthetic dye, known as erythrosine, is made from petroleum and is used to give products a vibrant red color. The dye is already prohibited in European Union countries and will be banned in food products sold or produced in California starting in 2027.
Nearly 3,000 food products in the US contain Red Dye No. 3, according to the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Food Scores database. The synthetic dye is commonly found in a wide range of items, including candy, mashed potatoes, rice, cereals, beverages, and medications.
The FDA is currently reviewing a petition to revoke the authorization for the dye, which is linked to cancer in animals. The petition cites the Delaney Clause, which prevents the FDA from approving any color additive on a federal level that has been shown to cause cancer in humans or animals.
Last week, FDA Deputy Commissioner Jim Jones informed the Senate Health Committee that the agency is actively reviewing the petition and is “hopeful that in the next few weeks we’ll be acting on that petition.”
A report from Fox News noted that in 1990, the FDA denied a petition to allow the use of Red Dye No. 3 in cosmetics and topical drugs due to concerns about its carcinogenic effects in animals. As public concern over the dye continues to grow among consumers, many companies have already removed it from their products.
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News’ senior medical analyst, expressed his concerns by telling the network, “We don’t know the extent of [how bad it is], but it’s not good for you. Why use it? The only reason to use it is because it’s cheaper, and it sells more products.”
This piece first appeared at TPUSA.
