Red No. 3, a synthetic food coloring found in a wide variety of food products ranging from candies to fruit juices to cookies, may soon face a nationwide ban in the United States. After years of research and advocacy, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is debating a ban on this controversial artificial food coloring due to its links to behavioral issues in children.
According to Forbes, the petroleum-based food coloring has previously been linked to thyroid cancer in animals. However, the FDA approved its use because the similar cancer risks to humans were extremely low. More recent studies, however, have shown that children who consumed food containing artificial dyes displayed an increase in hyperactivity, a behavioral issue that has raised concerns among parents.
This is not the first time the dye has faced legal scrutiny. The coloring has faced regulations and bans in the past from the FDA. According to NPR, in 1990, the FDA banned Red No. 3 from use in cosmetics, citing its links to cancer in animals as the justification. Despite this, the dye wasn’t banned from food because the FDA claimed that it was safe for consumption. Subsequent evaluations by the FDA have come to the same conclusion, and Red No. 3 stayed in American food products.
According to NBC, California recently became the first state to enact legislation banning Red No. 3, alongside other similar food additives. The new law is set to take effect in 2027. Other states, including Illinois and New York, have also passed legislation to ban the dye from foods sold within their borders. These pieces of legislation have put pressure on the FDA to take federal measures regarding the dye.
If the FDA implements a nationwide ban, the repercussions will be felt across the food and beverage industry. Red No. 3 is widely used in products such as candies, baked goods, beverages, and even some medications and dietary supplements. Popular items like gummies, jelly beans, cake frosting, and fruit punch owe their vibrant hues to this dye, making it an integral part of their visual appeal to consumers. As a result, manufacturers will face significant challenges as they work to reformulate recipes with the main objective of maintaining the same appearance, flavor, and quality that consumers expect.
Other countries, such as Australia and Japan, have already taken measures to ban the dye from products sold in their stores. According to NBC, it is also banned in Europe, and the differences between Europe and the United States in banning harmful chemicals is post-market review. While the EU has official permission to conduct post-market review and ban chemicals, the FDA does not have the same authorities. In the U.S., little resources are allocated to researching synthetic foods additives after they enter the market, and the FDA does not have a statutory mandate to conduct post-market review.
As the FDA deliberates on the future of Red No. 3, consumers are left in a state of uncertainty. While some may choose to avoid products containing the dye altogether, others might remain unaware of its presence in their favorite treats. This ongoing debate underscores the importance of informed decision-making and the critical role regulatory agencies play in protecting public health. According to Northeastern University Global News, this decision could set a precedent for how food additives are evaluated and regulated in the United States.
