SILVER SPRING MD – December 7, 2024 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may finally ban the use of food color additive Red 3 because years of concern about its adverse health impacts, particularly on children. It is against the law to use the color additive Red 3 in cosmetics or externally applied drugs because it has been shown to cause cancer in animals. However, it is used in almost 3 thousand food products in America and commonly found in drinks, snacks, candies and cereals. For more than 30 years, scientists have tried to have the FDA remove Red 3 from foods, dietary supplements, and oral medicines. The FDA has announced that it is reviewing a petition, FD&C No. 3, and will render a decision in a few weeks.
Food dyes are used to make junk food more appealing to kids. It may also fool parents into believing that the product contains a healthy fruit like strawberries. Red food dye 3 allows products to have bright cherry-red color. It is derived from petroleum. The dye is in many candies including Brach’s, Pez, and Peeps and in many Halloween candies like candy corn. It is also in Dubble Bubble chewing gum. The food dye has been FDA approved for use in food and ingested drugs since 1969.
Studies in the 1980’s has indicated that Red 3 has caused thyroid cancer in laboratory animals. As a result of these findings, the FDA banned its use in cosmetics, like lipstick and blush, and externally applied drugs in 1990. The agency has previously said that it would consider banning Red 3 in foods, ingested drugs, and supplements. U.S. laws from 1958 and 1960 prohibits the use of food additives that are shown to cause cancer in people or animals.
In 2023, California became the first state to ban the use of Red No. 3 in food.
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Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, healthyasheville@ashevillefm.org