The US Food and Drug Administration announced this month that it's effectively banning Red No. 3, the controversial artificial red dye found in food and drinks that's been linked to cancer. The decision comes 30 years after scientists first discovered links between the dye and thyroid cancer in animals.
The decision catches the US up with many other places in the world that have already banned the dye, including the European Union and Japan. The FDA itself banned Red No. 3 from use in cosmetics and topical drugs in 1990.
Consumers likely won't notice a difference in the food and drink they buy, said Virginia Tech food safety expert Melissa Wright
"Other synthetic dyes, like Red 40, can be used in those products in its place," Wright said in a statement. "Overall, Red 3 is used much less frequently than other synthetic dyes, like Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6."
The FDA is updating its color additive regulations following a 2022 petition from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on nutrition and public health. The petition urged the FDA to review two studies indicating that exposure to Red No. 3 caused cancer in male laboratory rats.
Read more: Red No. 3 Food Dye Has Been Banned, but What Foods Is It Currently In?
The dye has also been linked to behavioral impacts in children, including hyperactivity. The FDA concluded that "further neurobehavioral research is needed to explain potential pathways underlying these sensitivities." The administration advises concerned parents to check ingredient lists on labels and speak with a family doctor.
Red Dye No. 3 vs. No. 40
Another red dye, No. 40, is actually more popular than No. 3, according to the USDA database. Red dye No. 40 is used in cereal, beverages, gelatins, puddings, dairy products and confections.
Jaclyn Bowen, the executive director of Clean Label Project, a food and consumer safety nonprofit. told Good Housekeeping that the two dyes have different chemical composition.
"Red Dye No. 3 is an iodine-based compound, which is believed to contribute to its effects on thyroid function," Bowen told Good Housekeeping. "This iodine content makes it chemically distinct from other widely used synthetic dyes, such as Red 40, which do not pose the same targeted risks to the thyroid."
But it's possible Red Dye No. 40 could also come under the spotlight.
"Red 40 is considered somewhat healthier than Red Dye No. 3 because no carcinogenic concerns have been raised about it," Vanessa Rissetto, co-founder of the virtual nutrition care service Culina Health, told Good Housekeeping. "However, the use and effects of these food dyes have not been rigorously evaluated in years."
Foods with Red Dye No. 3
According to The New York Times, these are some of the foods that currently contain Red Dye No. 3.
Red No. 3 is widely used in candy and other products.
- Rainbow sprinkles
- Candies, such as candy corn, lollipops, jelly beans and candy necklaces
- Vegan "meats," including imitation bacon and sausages
- Red or pink frosting
- Strawberry milk and nutrition shakes
- Chewing gum
- Gummy vitamins
- Mashed-potato mixes
One candy that does not have Red Dye No. 3 is the popular Easter treat Marshmallow Peeps. The sugary candies, made by Pennsylvania-based Just Born, have not contained the coloring since after Easter 2024, the company says.
Marshmallow Peeps haven't contained Red Dye No. 3 since after Easter 2024.
Dye dates to 1907
Red No. 3, made from petroleum, was first approved for food consumption by the FDA in 1907. It's widely used in candy, cereals, cakes, frostings, carbonated drinks and many other products in the US, where it gives foods a vibrant cherry-red color. The decision follows decades of pressure from advocacy groups and lawmakers to remove the ingredient from the US food supply.
In a press release, the Center for Science in the Public Interest applauded the change.
"At long last, the FDA is ending the regulatory paradox of Red 3 being illegal for use in lipstick, but perfectly legal to feed to children in the form of candy," CSPI President Peter Lurie said. "The primary purpose of food dyes is to make candy, drinks and other processed foods more attractive. When the function is purely aesthetic, why accept any cancer risk?"
Lurie urged parents to avoid not only No. Red 3 but also all numbered dyes, such as Yellow 5 and Red 40.
"If the incoming administration wants to protect children's health, it should require companies to warn parents of the risks that all synthetic dyes pose to their children — right on the label of the package," Lurie said.
Manufacturers that use Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs must reformulate their products by Jan. 15, 2027, according to the FDA's new guidance. Imported foods that contain the dye will also need to comply with US regulations.