Red Dye 3 Is Officially Banned, But Won't Be Out Of Food Until 2027. Here Are The Exact Products To Avoid Until Then
Soon enough, red dye No.3 will be gone from shelves—but when?
On January 15, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a huge move when the agency announced it was revoking authorization for the controversial additive, citing research that showed it was linked to cancer in male rats. (Note: Red dye No.3 has not been proven to cause cancer in humans, despite what you may have read on social media.)
While many companies have been phasing out use of red dye No.3 for years, some products still contain it. But red dye No.3 “doesn’t add anything” (other than color) to your overall diet, says Scott Keatley, RD, co-owner of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy.
So which candies and drinks have red dye No.3—and when will it be phased out altogether? Here’s what you need to know.
Meet the experts: Scott Keatley, RD, is a co-owner of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy. Wade Syers, D.Soc.Sci. is a statewide Michigan State University Extension food safety specialist.
Which candies have red dye No. 3?
The best way to see if a particular candy contains red dye No.3 is to read the label. However, you can currently find red dye No.3 in these popular candies:
Pez Candy Assorted Fruit
Dubble Bubble Original Twist Bubble Gum
Brach's Candy Corn
Jelly Belly candies
Trolli Sour Crunchy Crawlers
Brach’s Conversation Hearts
Brach’s Candy Corn
Which drinks have red dye No. 3?
As with candies, many drink companies have already shifted to using red dye No.40 or natural dyes. But these drinks currently contain red dye No.3:
Ensure Original Strawberry Nutrition Shake
Yoo-hoo Strawberry Drink
Some sodas and other fruit-flavored drinks also contain red dye No.3. When inspecting the label look for “red dye No.3,” “red 3,” “red dye 3,” “erythrosine,” and “FD&C Red No. 3.” These are all names for red dye No.3.
When will red dye No. 3 be officially gone from shelves?
The FDA is giving food companies until January 15, 2027, to remove red dye No.3 from their products, so it won't be officially gone until then.
If you happen to ingest some red dye No.3 here and there, you’ll likely be fine, says Wade Syers, D.Soc.Sci., a statewide Michigan State University Extension food safety specialist. But if you’re worried about the dye’s potential impact on your health, he suggests reading ingredients lists carefully and limiting how many of products that contain the dye that you purchase.
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