The United States has taken a significant step towards ensuring public health by officially banning Red 3 food dye, also known as erythrosine or FD&C Red No. 3, due to its cancer risks. This decision comes nearly 35 years after the dye was prohibited in cosmetics for similar reasons. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiated this ban based on studies indicating that high doses of Red 3 caused cancer in lab rats. Although conclusive evidence proving the dye causes cancer in humans is absent, the FDA chose to prioritize consumer safety.
Food manufacturers have been given until January 2027 to remove Red 3 from their products, while producers of ingested drugs have until January 2028 to comply. This measure is a significant victory for consumer advocacy groups that have long campaigned for the elimination of synthetic dyes from the food supply.
Sources:
https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-bans-red-3-food-dye-citing-cancer-risk
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/health/red-3-food-dye-ban.html
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