What the FDA's Red Dye No. 3 Ban Means for Your Favorite Foods

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasbannedthe use ofRed No. 3, a food dye that had been linked to thyroid cancer in rats over three decades ago. The dye will no longer be allowed in food, drinks, dietary supplements, and oral medications like cough syrups.Red No. 3, also known as FD&C Red No. 3 and erythrosine, is used to dye food and drinks in a bright cherry-red color. It was banned from use in cosmetics and externally applied medications such as ointments in 1990 because of the link to cancer.However, the FDA delayed the ban in foods and oral medicines until this week.Manufacturers who use Red No. 3 in food will have until Jan. 15, 2027, to reformulate their products. Those who use the dye in ingested drugs will have until Jan. 18, 2028, to do so. While some other countries still allow certain uses of the dye, foods imported to the United States must comply with U.S. requirements, according to the FDA.“At long last, the FDA is ending the regulatory paradox of Red 3 being illegal for use in lipstick, but perfectly legal to feed to children in the form of candy,” saidPeter Lurie, MD,president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest,in a statement. “The primary purpose of food dyes is to make candy, drinks, and other processed foods more attractive. When the function is purely aesthetic, why accept any cancer risk?”Here’s what you should know about Red No. 3 and its use in food and medications.The FDA Just Redefined ‘Healthy’ on Food Labels—What This Means for Your GroceriesWhat Foods Use Red No. 3?Red No. 3 is mostly used in food products such as candy, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, frozen desserts, and frostings and icings.Here are some products that might contain the dye:Fruit cocktailsMaraschino cherriesArtificially colored beveragesBacon bitsStrawberry milkCandy-coated chocolateCandy CornChocolate protein shakeSome flavors of Ring PopYou may still find food products with Red No. 3 until 2027. Meanwhile, check the food labels for words like “Red 3,” “FD&C Red 3,” or “FD&C Red No. 3” if you want to avoid the dye.Potential Risks of Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)Should You Avoid Synthetic Food Dyes?Red No. 3 isn’t the only synthetic food dye that has been linked to health issues. Although many manufacturers have replaced Red No. 3 with natural food coloring, some have switched toRed 40, which has beenlinked to ADHD in children.However, it might be impossible to avoid all food dyes in your diet. Instead, you can focus on making healthier swaps, saidAmanda Beaver, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas.“A nutritious diet will be low in dyes regardless. I don’t think it is reasonable to avoid all dyes in foods as they are found in so many celebration foods,” Beaver said.Beaver said that if you want to use food dyes for baking or cooking, you can opt for natural food coloring, such as the following:Annatto extract (yellow)Beetroot powder (bluish-red to brown)Caramel (yellow to tan)Beta-carotene from carrots (yellow to orange)Grape skin extract and purple carrot juice (red or purple)Ultra-Processed Foods and How They Impact Your HealthWhat This Means For YouRed No. 3 will be phased out of U.S. food, drinks, and oral medications in the next few years. While the dye is still found in some products, you can check labels for terms like “Red 3” or “FD&C Red 3” to avoid it.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasbannedthe use ofRed No. 3, a food dye that had been linked to thyroid cancer in rats over three decades ago. The dye will no longer be allowed in food, drinks, dietary supplements, and oral medications like cough syrups.

Red No. 3, also known as FD&C Red No. 3 and erythrosine, is used to dye food and drinks in a bright cherry-red color. It was banned from use in cosmetics and externally applied medications such as ointments in 1990 because of the link to cancer.However, the FDA delayed the ban in foods and oral medicines until this week.

Manufacturers who use Red No. 3 in food will have until Jan. 15, 2027, to reformulate their products. Those who use the dye in ingested drugs will have until Jan. 18, 2028, to do so. While some other countries still allow certain uses of the dye, foods imported to the United States must comply with U.S. requirements, according to the FDA.

“At long last, the FDA is ending the regulatory paradox of Red 3 being illegal for use in lipstick, but perfectly legal to feed to children in the form of candy,” saidPeter Lurie, MD,president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest,in a statement. “The primary purpose of food dyes is to make candy, drinks, and other processed foods more attractive. When the function is purely aesthetic, why accept any cancer risk?”

Here’s what you should know about Red No. 3 and its use in food and medications.

The FDA Just Redefined ‘Healthy’ on Food Labels—What This Means for Your Groceries

What Foods Use Red No. 3?

Red No. 3 is mostly used in food products such as candy, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, frozen desserts, and frostings and icings.

Here are some products that might contain the dye:

You may still find food products with Red No. 3 until 2027. Meanwhile, check the food labels for words like “Red 3,” “FD&C Red 3,” or “FD&C Red No. 3” if you want to avoid the dye.

Potential Risks of Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)

Should You Avoid Synthetic Food Dyes?

Red No. 3 isn’t the only synthetic food dye that has been linked to health issues. Although many manufacturers have replaced Red No. 3 with natural food coloring, some have switched toRed 40, which has beenlinked to ADHD in children.

However, it might be impossible to avoid all food dyes in your diet. Instead, you can focus on making healthier swaps, saidAmanda Beaver, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas.

“A nutritious diet will be low in dyes regardless. I don’t think it is reasonable to avoid all dyes in foods as they are found in so many celebration foods,” Beaver said.

Beaver said that if you want to use food dyes for baking or cooking, you can opt for natural food coloring, such as the following:

Ultra-Processed Foods and How They Impact Your Health

What This Means For YouRed No. 3 will be phased out of U.S. food, drinks, and oral medications in the next few years. While the dye is still found in some products, you can check labels for terms like “Red 3” or “FD&C Red 3” to avoid it.

What This Means For You

Red No. 3 will be phased out of U.S. food, drinks, and oral medications in the next few years. While the dye is still found in some products, you can check labels for terms like “Red 3” or “FD&C Red 3” to avoid it.

2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.FD&C Red No. 3.de Oliveira ZB, Silva da Costa DV, da Silva Dos Santos AC, et al.Synthetic colors in food: a warning for children’s health.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024;21(6):682. doi:10.3390/ijerph21060682

2 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.FD&C Red No. 3.de Oliveira ZB, Silva da Costa DV, da Silva Dos Santos AC, et al.Synthetic colors in food: a warning for children’s health.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024;21(6):682. doi:10.3390/ijerph21060682

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Food and Drug Administration.FD&C Red No. 3.de Oliveira ZB, Silva da Costa DV, da Silva Dos Santos AC, et al.Synthetic colors in food: a warning for children’s health.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024;21(6):682. doi:10.3390/ijerph21060682

Food and Drug Administration.FD&C Red No. 3.

de Oliveira ZB, Silva da Costa DV, da Silva Dos Santos AC, et al.Synthetic colors in food: a warning for children’s health.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024;21(6):682. doi:10.3390/ijerph21060682

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