The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the use of Red No. 3, a synthetic food dye that gives some candies, cakes, and oral medications their cherry-red color. This decision comes after evidence linked the dye to cancer in laboratory rats.
The FDA’s action on Wednesday follows more than 30 years after the dye was prohibited in cosmetics. “Why you would say something can’t be in cosmetics, but you can eat it makes no sense to me,” said Linda Birnbaum, a petitioner and former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Consumer advocacy groups have long pushed for this ban, citing studies suggesting high exposure to Red No. 3 may cause cancer in male rats. In 2022, a petition called for the FDA to reevaluate the dye’s safety. According to Jim Jones, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, “The FDA cannot authorize a food or color additive found to cause cancer in humans or animals.”
The agency clarified that studies in humans and other animals do not support claims that the dye poses a significant risk. Still, manufacturers using Red No. 3 in food must reformulate their products by January 15, 2027. Makers of oral medications have until January 18, 2028, to comply.
The National Confectioners Association assured the public of its commitment to food safety, stating it will follow the FDA’s guidelines.
This ban has reignited debates over food additives, with lawmakers urging stricter oversight. Critics like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advocate reducing chemicals in food to protect public health.
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