FDA Bans Red Dye No. 3 From Food Due to Cancer Risk

Big changes are on the horizon for some of your favorite snack foods and drinks. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today that it is formally banning the use of Red No. 3—a synthetic dye that was previously barred from cosmetics due to a known cancer risk—in food and ingested drugs. This move is a response to a 2022 color additive petition filed by more than a dozen food safety and health advocates who requested that the agency ban the substance, sometimes known as FD&C Red No. 3, in food and other items due to its known health risks.

While the FDA noted that two studies showed cancer in male lab rats exposed to high levels of FD&C Red No. 3, the agency clarified “the way that FD&C Red No. 3 causes cancer in male rats does not occur in humans.” Additionally, the FDA pointed out that “relevant exposure levels to FD&C Red No. 3 for humans are typically much lower than those that cause the effects shown in male rats,” and that studies conducted in other animals and humans did not show these harmful effects.

Still, Red No. 3 is now being banned in food and ingested drugs due to something called the Delaney Clause, which “prohibits FDA authorization of a food additive or color additive if it has been found to induce cancer in humans or animals.” Europe, Australia, and New Zealand have already banned Red No. 3 in food, except for certain cherry varieties.

Per this announcement from the FDA, food manufacturers who use Red No. 3 will have until January 15, 2027 to remove it from their products, while producers of ingested drugs must remove Red No. 3 from their medicines by January 18, 2028. Additionally, even though Red No. 3 is still permitted in other countries, all foods imported to the United States must be free of it by January 2027.

So, what does all of this mean for you and the food and medication you consume? Keep reading to find out.

What Is Red No. 3?

Red No. 3, which you may have seen listed on some nutrition labels, is a synthetic food dye that gives foods and drinks a bright, cherry-red color. It is similar, though not identical to Red No. 40—a dark red dye utilized in some sports drinks, candy, condiments, and cereal.

According to the FDA, Red No. 3 is not as widely used in food and drugs when compared to other certified colors, but it can be found in certain food products, such as candy, cakes and cupcakes, cookies, frozen desserts, and frostings and icings. Red No. 3 is also present in certain ingested drugs, such as gabapentin and certain cough syrups.

“Today’s action by the FDA marks a monumental victory for consumer health and safety,” Ken Cook, president and cofounder of the Environmental Working Group, said in a statement. “For years, Red 3 remained in food products, despite growing evidence linking it to health problems, particularly in kids.”

Foods and Household Items Made with Red No. 3

As noted above, Red No. 3 is currently found in a variety of foods and snacks, as well as certain ingested vitamins and medications. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest and Newsweek, the following products contain Red No. 3:

• Candy corn
• Hot Tamales (some varieties)
• PEZ
• Fruit by the Foot
• Ring Pop (certain flavors)
• Dubble Bubble gum
• Jelly Belly candies
• Conversation heart candies
• Maraschino cherries (some varieties)
• Certain canned fruit varieties 
• Toaster pastries
• Entenmann’s Little Bites Party Cake Mini Muffins
• Strawberry-flavored milk
• Ice pops and frozen fruit bars (some varieties)
• Some cough syrups
• Some ice cream and frozen yogurt flavors
• Some gummy vitamins
• Some sodas and fruit drinks

As always, check the ingredients label to see if Red No. 3 is in any foods you plan to consume.