The FDA has banned Red Dye 3 in food and drug products in the United States. Research has shown the substance has potential links to cancer, which led to its ban in cosmetics in 1990. Food manufacturers will have until 2027, and ingested drug producers will have until 2028 to reformulate their products to remove Red 3. Below is a partial list of popular products affected by the FDA’s decision.
What products have Red 3 in them?
There are many products sold in the US that contain Red 3. According to The Hill, the dye shows up on ingredient lists as Red Dye No. 3, FD&C Red No. 3, and Erythrosine. It’s been used in food coloring, printing ink, film development, as a biological stain, and more. While it can be found in many products, its use is less common than Red 40 (Allura Red AC), which has been found to be safer.
You can currently find Red 3 in the following products:
- Brach’s Candy Corn
- Dubble Bubble Original Twist
- Entenmann’s Little Bites Pary Cake Mini Muffins
- Fruit By The Foot
- Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake bar
- Jelly Belly – Multiple Varieties
- Pez Candy – Assorted Fruit
- Some cough syrups
- Some frozen fruit bars
- Some Frozen yogurt flavors
- Some fruit-flavored drinks
- Some gummy vitamins
- Some ice cream flavors
- Some ice pops
- Some Maraschino cherries
- Some red icings
- Some snack cakes
- Some sodas
- Some toaster pastries
- Some varieties of Strawberry-flavored Milk
- Trolli Sour Crunchy Crawlers
- Yoo-Hoo Strawberry Drink
Research into artificial dyes remains ongoing, with scientists examining their effects on health and safety. Growing concerns have led to increased scrutiny, as some experts and advocacy groups are pushing for additional bans on certain synthetic colorants. Studies have suggested potential links between these dyes and health issues such as hyperactivity disorders, allergic reactions, and even cancer. These findings have sparked widespread debate, with parents and consumer advocates calling for stricter regulations and further investigation into dyes like Yellow 5 and Red 40, which are commonly found in processed foods and beverages.
