Dangerous dye found in many favorite foods: The effects of Red Dye No. 3

By Mylie Norton, Staff Writer

As of Jan. 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has implemented a ban on Red Dye No. 3 (Red 3) or erythrosine in the United States (US). Synthetic dyes are petroleum-based chemicals that do not exist in nature. They are used in foods to “enhance the visual appeal” of products (FDA.gov). Red 3 is known to create a bright cherry red look in food and drink products. It can be found in cough syrup, candies, frostings, baked goods such as cupcakes, cakes, cookies, and frozen desserts. 

“Foods like Jell-O, gummies, candy, and soda drinks are all products that are included in the ban list,” graduate nutrition major Tanishka Shah said. 

FDA announced to manufacturers that using any amounts of the dye is no longer permitted in products. These manufacturers have until Jan. 15, 2027 or Jan. 18, 2028, to remove the dye from their products. This allows companies two to three years to re-evaluate their ingredients when making products previously containing Red 3. 

“They changed the ingredient in Kraft Mac and Cheese to paprika as a natural form of coloring rather than Red 3 dye,” graduate nutrition major Kaitlyn Alvayero said. “There are other countries that advertise a warning label on products with synthetic dyes, whereas the United States does not.”

The US allows nine dyes, including Red 3, in food and drink products. These dyes include Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Citrus Red 2, and Orange B. 

The reasoning behind the FDA’s order to ban Red 3 in food and drink products is based on the Delaney Clause of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The Delaney Clause was introduced in 1960, prohibiting the distribution of food or color additives that lead to cancer in humans and animals (FDA.gov). 

The FDA conducted many tests to determine the severity of Red 3. In 2022, these tests done by the FDA, revealed Red 3 led to cancer in male laboratory rats. The levels of dye that were exposed to the rats were high enough to induce a hormonal imbalance, leading to cancer (FDA.gov). Though there has been no evidence that Red 3 would affect humans in this way,  the Delaney Clause states that no amount of color additive can lead to human or animal cancers. 

“This should not change the American diet too much. There should be ways to find substitutes to the products that contain Red 3,” Shah said.

Some current substitutes include beet juice, purple sweet potato, red cabbage extracts, and carmine. These ingredients will provide the red coloring in foods or drinks, but do not have cancer causing chemicals like Red 3. 

The ultimate goal of the FDA is to limit the amount of harmful ingredients in the food people consume every day. Following in the footsteps of other countries such as the European Union, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, the United States is aiming to limit the harmful ingredients made available to citizens every day.