The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a ban on the use of a synthetic dye, known as red No 3 or red dye 3, in foods and beverages to avoid the bright, cherry-red hue, following studies that associated it with cancer in male laboratory rats.
The ban, spurred by a petition in 2022 by various groups including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, aims to eliminate the dye due to its cancer links and widespread consumption, particularly among children, and will come into effect by January 2027 for food manufacturers and January 2028 for drug manufacturers.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest praised the FDA's decision, stating that it ends the inconsistency of allowing red No 3 in food while banned in cosmetics, highlighting its use in items like candy, cakes, and frozen desserts.
The dye, also known as erythrosine, has been widely used in various products, but some companies have already transitioned to alternatives like red dye 40, although studies have raised concerns about its impact on health, such as an increase in bowel disorders and hyperactivity in children.