Sports Editor
On Jan. 15, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 in all foods, beverages, and drugs, nearly three decades after scientists discovered links to cancer caused by the dye in animals.
The dye, chemically known as erythrosine, is a synthetic color additive made from petroleum. It is known for providing candy, beverages, and other products with their bright, cherry-red color. First approved for use in food in 1907, U.S. regulators prohibited the dye in cosmetics and topical drugs in 1990 after the agency discovered the additive was possibly carcinogenic. At the time, the FDA cited an industry-conducted study that found the chemical caused thyroid cancer in male laboratory rats and estimated that it might cause cancer in fewer than one in 100,000 people. Researchers have also linked the dye to health concerns for children. They have since pledged to do the same with the food industry; thus, the agency’s move to ban the dye has been in the works for years.
Although the dye continues to appear in consumer products, many companies have begun switching to other natural food colorings derived from sources like beets, red cabbage, and insects, a move that increased after California became the first state to ban Red Dye No. 3 in 2023 along with three other food additives that scientists linked to disease. Just Born, the maker of Peeps, announced that the company would discontinue the coloring after the 2024 Easter holiday. Other companies have switched to Red Dye 40, including Mars and its use of the dye in their red chocolate candy M&Ms. As for the dye’s worldwide use, Red Dye No. 3 is already banned for food use in numerous places, including Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, except the dye in maraschino cherries.
When announcing the ban, the agency minimized the potential risks to humans, noting that studies on animals aside from male rats had not shown comparable cancer risks. Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, stated that claims expressing that the use of Red Dye No. 3 “in food and ingested drugs put people at risk are not supported by the available scientific information.”
Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy and federal affairs for the Consumer Brands Association, responded to news of the ban by ensuring that food and beverage companies would comply. In a statement, she wrote, “Revoking the authorized use of Red No. 3 is an example of the FDA using its risk and science-based authority to review the safety of products in the marketplace. Food and beverage companies will continue to follow the latest science and comply with all food-safe regulations to ensure safe and available choices for consumers.” Beginning in 2027, companies must eliminate the dye from their products. Additionally, imported foods sold in the United States must also discontinue using the additive.
(Sources: CNN, NBC, NY Times)
Categories: National