FDA bans red food dye due to potential cancer risk

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially banned red dye – called Red 3 or Erythrosin – from foods, dietary supplements and ingested medicines, as reported by the Associated Press on Wednesday.

Food manufacturers must remove the dye from their products by January 2027, while drug manufacturers have until January 2028 to do so, AP said.

All food imported into the United States from other countries will also be subject to the new regulation.

RED FOOD COLORING COULD SOON BE BAN AS FDA REPORTS PETITION

“FDA is taking action that will remove the authorization for use of FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs,” Jim Jones, FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, said in a statement.

The US Food and Drug Administration has officially banned red dye – called Red 3 or Erythrosin – from foods, dietary supplements and ingested medications (iStock)

“Evidence shows cancer in male laboratory rats exposed to high levels of FD&C Red No.3,” he continued. “Importantly, the way FD&C Red No. 3 causes cancer in male rats does not occur in humans.”

The synthetic dye, which is made from petroleum, is used as a color additive in foods and ingested drugs to give them a “bright cherry red color,” according to an online statement from the FDA.

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The petition to ban the dye cited the Delaney Clause, which states that the agency cannot classify a color additive as safe if it has been shown that cause cancer in humans or animals.

The dye was removed from cosmetics nearly 35 years ago due to potential cancer risk.

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“This is a welcome but long overdue action by the FDA: removing the unsustainable double standard where Red 3 was banned from lipstick but allowed in candy,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, director of the group Center for Science in the Public Interest. who led the petition effort, as reported by the AP.

Almost 3,000 foods have been shown to contain red no. 3, according to Food Scores, a food database compiled by the Environmental Working Group.

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The petition to remove red no. 3 from food, dietary supplements and medicines was presented by the Center for Science in the Public Interest and 23 other organizations and scientists.