LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned red dye No. 3 from foods Wednesday, a move that comes nearly 35 years after the FDA banned the dye in cosmetics because of a potential cancer risk.
In 1988, scientists with Nara Medical University found out the potential health effects of red dye No. 3 through a study using rats. Red dye No. 3 is a synthetic color additive made from petroleum, used to give food and drinks a bright red color.
"The dose they were receiving was 4% of their lifetime dietary intake ... and they ended up developing these thyroid tumors," said Jen Truman, Norton Healthcare Weight Loss Management nurse practitioner. "Again, this has not been replicated in humans."
Red dye No. 3 can be found in store-bought baked goods, ring pops and other candies, ice cream bars and some cough syrups.
“One of the biggest things here is that people aren’t really recognizing what they are putting into their bodies," Truman said. "Something as simple as turning the package around and reading the label red 3, red 40, any of the yellows are in there is going to be helpful."
Truman said it's just as important to pay attention to other aspects of nutrition.
"If I have somebody ask me whether they should be worried about food dye or over sugar and carbohydrates and their overall health and obesity, I’m going to tell them to tell them to focus on their overall health and current weight," she said. "Sugar, refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods are going to be more detrimental to your health in the long run than these food dyes."
Some companies have already stopped using red dye No. 3 while others have begun phasing it out. California banned it in Oct. 2023.
Food manufacturers will have until Jan. 2027 to remove the dye from their products. Drug companies will have until Jan. 2028.