Health
Red No. 3 dye banned: These are the foods sold in the US that contain the ingredient
The FDA has banned Red No. 3 dye found in numerous products from food to medicines, which has been shown to cause cancer in lab rats.
The Food and Drug Administration followed through with a ban on a particular type of artificial food coloring called Red No. 3 on Wednesday. The synthetic coloring additive, which is made from petroleum, has been found to cause cancer in lab rats, which after a reevaluation by the FDA prompted the ban under the agency’s Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Dr. Jerold Mande, adjunct professor of nutrition at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told CNN that the move “is long overdue, is a small step in the right direction.” He hopes that this action “signals a renewed effort by FDA to do its job despite the many barriers the food industry places in its way.”
Food manufacturers will have until January 15, 2027, to remove the additive. On the other hand, medicine containing Red No. 3 will need to be reformulated by January 18, 2028.
Products that may contain Red No. 3 dye
Red No. 3 can be found in scores of products including beverage, candy and food products as well as dietary supplements and medicines that are ingested.
It is a common ingredient in strawberry milk and can be found in protein shakes in addition to other colored beverages and fruit juices. It is used in a variety of candies but is especially present in seasonal ones like candy corn and assorted Valentine’s Day candies.
Cakes, cupcakes and frostings may contain Red No. 3 as well as ice pops and ice creams with strawberry flavoring. It may be used in those bright red Maraschino cherries and other fruit cocktails. Additionally, imitation bacon bits and vegetarian meats may contain the banned food additive.
Some brands of cough drops and cough syrup contain Red No. 3. As well, some brands of gummy vitamins.
Consumers are advised to read the label of the products they buy to see what ingredients they contain. Certified colors must be declared in the statement of ingredients on food labels under the FDA’s food labeling regulations. It may also appear on food labels as ‘FD&C Red No. 3′, ‘FD&C Red 3′ or simply ‘Red 3′.
What is Red No. 3?
Red No. 3, also called erythrosine, is an artificial coloring to make products red or pink. It’s made from coal tar, an oil-based substance, which serves as the base for its manufacture. The dye has been widely used because it is cheaper to produce than natural alternatives, gives a more consistent appearance, and has a longer shelf life.
However, growing concerns about the coloring’s effects on health have led some companies to phase it out voluntarily.
The harmful effects of Red No. 3
Animal studies and regulatory reviews have revealed some troubling health effects involving consumption of the dye.
The product has been linked to cancer, after a study way back in the 1980s showed a relationship between the dye and thyroid tumors in rodents.
The FDA banned its use in topical drugs and cosmetics in 1990 but continued to allow its use in foods and oral medications due to industry resistance and the lack of direct human studies.
There has also been evidence suggesting a potential link between Red No. 3 and hyperactivity in some children, similar to the effect produced by other synthetic food dyes.
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