After a controversial red food dye was banned in the US, more questions regarding its use have continued to arise. On Jan. 15, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it’s revoking its authorization of Red No. 3 in food, drinks and ingested drugs across the country after two studies showed that when the dye was ingested in high amounts by laboratory rats, it caused cancer.
The ban also comes after the state of California banned the same dye and three other food additives in 2023, which gave manufacturers until 2027 to change their recipes. Then in 2024, California made history again by banning six more artificial dyes — Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 — from being served in public schools.
Now the FDA has followed suit by banning Red No. 3. Here’s everything to know about the synthetic dye.
What is Red No. 3?
Red No. 3 — also known as FD&C Red No. 3, erythrosine or Red 3 — is a synthetic dye that is made from petroleum and adds a “bright, cherry-red color” to the products it is added to.
In 1990, the FDA banned Red No. 3 in cosmetics, but no law barred the synthetic dye from being added to numerous types of foods and drinks for decades to come.
The FDA cited the Delaney Clause as its reasoning behind the ban, which “prohibits FDA authorization of a food additive or color additive if it has been found to induce cancer in humans or animals.”
Although studies did show a link to cancer in laboratory rats, a link between the dye and cancer in humans has not been found.
“While there are studies noting carcinogenicity in male rats, the FDA noted in their announcement that the hormonal mechanism through which the dye caused cancer in rats is specific to the animal and does not occur in humans,” Bryan Hitchcock, chief science and technology officer of the Institute of Food Technologists, told CNET.
Hitchcock added that the studies used large amounts of the dye, which is more than what the average human would consume when eating the foods that contain it.
“Studies testing Red No. 3 for human safety have done so at amounts well above the average amount of consumption, as noted by various global regulatory bodies,” he says. “The studies referenced by the FDA note that the rats were given roughly 200 times the likely maximum daily consumption of .25 mg/kg of body weight per day.”
What foods contain Red No. 3?
- Candy
- Cakes
- Cupcakes
- Cookies
- Frozen desserts
- Frostings
- Icings
- Certain Maraschino cherries
- Certain processed meats and meat substitutes
Red No. 3 has previously been banned in other countries, including Japan and Australia.
Some specific items that currently have Red No. 3 on its ingredient list are:
- Numerous types of Brach’s candy, including Classic Jelly Beans, Spiced Jelly Beans and Conversation Hearts
- MorningStar Farms Plant-Based Bacon Strips
- Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake Frozen Dessert Bars
- Pez candy
According to a list compiled by Drugs.com, some of the drugs that have Red No. 3 in them include:
- Acetaminophen
- Doxycycline Monohydrate
- Gabapentin
- Vyvanse
When will companies officially remove Red No. 3 from products?
Despite the ban, don’t expect to see the Red No. 3 ingredient disappear from ingredient lists too quickly. According to the FDA, companies will have until 2027 or 2028 to remove it from their products.
“Manufacturers who use FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs will have until January 15, 2027, or January 18, 2028, respectively, to reformulate their products,” the FDA’s statement reads.
Alternatives to Red No. 3
Givaudan Sense Colour, a manufacturing company that creates natural food and drink colorings, highlighted three possible alternatives to Red No. 3. They include carmine, which is actually made from bugs; betacyanins, found in beetroots; and anthocyanins, derived from fruits and vegetables.
California assemblymember Jesse Gabriel told NBC News that although synthetic dyes can be cheaper than other alternatives, he does not believe that the Red No. 3 ban will cause prices of the affected products to change.
“We don’t expect the price of any food to increase,” he told the outlet.
As for alternative synthetic dyes, Red 40, which is not banned by the FDA, can also help achieve a bright red color, so it is also a possible alternative that manufacturers will choose.
Are other color additives safe?
After the Red No. 3 ban, there are now eight color additives approved by the FDA. They are FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue No. 2, FD&C Green No. 3, Orange B, Citrus Red No. 2, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5 and FD&C Yellow No. 6.
Hitchcock says that so far, studies show that there is not a notable risk to consuming these dyes.
“While science tells us that there is little to no risk in consuming other synthetic dyes, it is important that we continue to monitor and evaluate food ingredient safety,” he says. “It is paramount that we continue to invest in more scientific research around the health of our foods to ensure safety and provide peace of mind for consumers.”
According to the FDA, the above dyes do not pose the same possible risks as Red No. 3, which is why they are still available for use in the US. But, some studies show possible links between certain dyes and potential health conditions. For example, some studies have linked Red 40 to hyperactivity, according to the Cleveland Clinic, but further studies are still needed to determine a direct link between the dye and the condition.
When asked about the safety of other food dyes, Hitchcock highlighted the need for transparency from the FDA, which he says the agency has been addressing.
“We believe there needs to be a clear framework for post-market review for food additive safety,” Hitchcock says. “The FDA is actively working to address this issue as seen in their ‘Development of an Enhanced Systematic Process for the FDA’s Post-Market Assessment of Chemicals in Food.’ IFT believes that the FDA needs to bring forward a post-market assessment of chemical food safety that is transparent, scientifically grounded, constituent informed and timely.”
If a drink looks too red to be natural, it probably is.
The bottom line
Red No. 3 has been fully banned in the US, but it will continue to be used in food for the next two years as manufacturers work to change their recipes. However, some manufacturers are making changes much more quickly than that.
In an email to CBS News, Keurig Dr Pepper said that a “new formula” for Yoo-hoo Strawberry Flavored Drink, which is currently made with Red No. 3 to help achieve its color, “will be on shelves before the end of the year.”
