FDA Finally Bans Red Dye No.3 from Food, Drinks and Medicines in US–Following Cancer Link

In a long overdue decision, the Food and Drug Administration announced this week it will ban the use of Red Dye No. 3 (RD3) in food. Food companies have until 2027 to remove it, while drug companies have until 2028.

The decision comes after years of advocacy from organizations that point to evidence showing how RD3 has caused cancer in animals. It has been banned in cosmetics since 1990, but remained in thousands of food and beverage products.

Recent research further underscores the dangers of this chemical dye in food. A 2021 study by California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found that synthetic dyes like RD3 are linked to a greater risk of behavioral difficulties in children, including decreased attention span and memory problems.

“We wouldn’t be celebrating this historic decision today without the relentless leadership of public health champions like Michael Jacobson and others who took up this fight decades ago on behalf of consumers,” said President and co-founder of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Ken Cook, in a statement celebrating the announcement.

RD3 has been singled out as a particularly harmful food dye because studies show it causes cancer in animals. Synthetic food dyes are not banned in Europe, but producers are required to put labels on the packaging similar to cigarettes explaining the risks. Most products indeed use curcumin for yellow, spirulina for blue, and carotenoids for red and orange.

“Today’s action by the FDA marks a monumental victory for consumer health and safety,” said Cook. “For years, Red 3 remained in food products, despite growing evidence linking it to health problems, particularly in kids.”

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“This ban sends a strong message that protecting the health of Americans—especially vulnerable children—must always take priority over the narrow interests of the food industry.”

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GNN last reported on food colorings when Yellow Dye No.5, called tartrazine and derived from coal processing were in the regulatory crosshairs for their effects on children related to hyperactivity. YD5 is still authorized for use as a food additive, despite its links with many diseases including cancer, asthma, and ADD/ADHD.

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