(WDNews) — The FDA has announced it will ban Red No. 3, a synthetic dye used to give candy, cakes, frozen desserts, and some medicines a bright red color. This decision comes after studies showed the dye can cause cancer in animals when consumed in high amounts. Although no harm has been proven in humans, FDA rules prohibit any dye linked to cancer in animals.
Food manufacturers must stop using Red No. 3 by 2027, and drugmakers have until 2028 to make changes. The dye has been banned in cosmetics since 1990 and has been mostly outlawed in Europe since 1994. FDA Commissioner Robert Califf explained that the U.S. has not banned it sooner because the agency lacks the resources to monitor dyes as thoroughly as Europe does.
Red No. 3 was first approved for use in 1969 and has been reviewed multiple times over the years. However, pressure from health groups led the FDA to act. In 2022, a petition called for the dye’s removal from food and drugs.
The National Confectioners Association, which represents candy makers, said it will follow the new rules and continue to prioritize food safety. “Our consumers and everyone in the food industry want and expect a strong FDA,” the group said in a statement.
Another red dye, Red 40, will remain legal, even though some studies have suggested it might also be linked to cancer in animals. The FDA has not made any moves to ban it at this time.
This new ban is meant to protect public health, giving companies time to create safer alternatives while ensuring food safety remains a priority.
