FDA Bans Red No. 3, the Artificial Coloring in Many Products
Red No. 3 is used as bright red artificial coloring in candy, cereal, fruit cocktails, strawberry-flavored milkshakes, and other foods and beverages. It’s ubiquitous. And so it’s alarming that data has surfaced that the dye can cause cancer in lab animals; specifically, evidence reveals that lab male rats exposed to heightened Red No. 3 levels developed cancer.
The FDA recently banned use of Red No. 3, but the Center for Science in the Public Interest has commented that it exists in thousands of—a whopping 9200—products. Notably, the FDA isn’t banning Red No. 40, another artificial dye linked to problems, specifically behavioral ones, in kids.
Food manufacturers can take until Jan. 15, 2027, to reformulate their products, which means consumers should be alert to ingredient lists and avoid products with Red No. 3. Those manufacturers of ingested drugs that include Red No. 3 such as supplements have until January 15, 2028.