Why did the US FDA just ban 'red dye 3'? A food safety expert explains
On January 15, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has revoked authorisation of the additive red dye 3, meaning it will be banned from foods and drugs.
The news comes more than a year after California prohibited the use of red dye 3 in products sold in the state. Red dye 3 has been widely criticised for years, with many companies having already started to remove the dye from their foods.
However, red dye 3 – already heavily restricted in the UK – is still circulating in the US food and drug supply. Here’s which foods contain it and why it's been banned.
Meet the experts: Wade Syers, D.Soc.Sci. is a statewide Michigan State University Extension food safety specialist. Scott Keatley, RD, co-owner of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy.
What is red dye 3?
Red dye 3 – also known as red dye No.3 and erythrosine – is a synthetic dye that’s derived from petroleum. The dye is usually used in some foods to create a bright, cherry-red color.
In 1990, red dye 3 was banned from use in cosmetics and topical drugs by the FDA under the Delaney Clause of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). This clause states that colour additives may not be used in the US if they cause cancer in animals or humans when ingested. (Research finds that red dye 3 may cause cancer in high doses in rats, although studies on humans have not had the same conclusion.)
'This ingredient doesn’t add anything to the food aside from the red and pink vivid colors, which neither enhances flavour, enhances nutrition, or improves shelf life,' says Scott Keatley, RD, co-owner of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy.
Which foods have red dye 3?
Again, many companies in the US have already worked to remove red dye 3 from their products due to growing concerns from the general public. However, the dye is still circulating in some foods. These are the most common items that contain red dye 3, according to an FDA exposure analysis:
Baking decorations
Ice cream cones
Frostings and icings
Frozen dairy desserts
Soft sweets and gummies
Meal replacement drinks and bars
Cookies
Toaster pastries
Ice lollies
Baby foods
Hard sweets
Why is red dye 3 bad?
In its alert, the FDA noted that red dye 3 was being banned 'as a matter of law,' citing the Delaney Clause. But the agency stressed that human studies have not linked red dye 3 to cancer, only animal ones have.
'This news is not surprising because the Food Drug and Cosmetics Act prohibits the authorisation of color additives that have been found to induce cancer in humans or animals, and red dye No. 3 has been found to induce cancer in male rats under certain conditions,' says Wade Syers, D.Soc.Sci., a statewide Michigan State University Extension food safety specialist. 'There is no evidence that red dye No. 3 causes cancer in humans.'
But many are also concerned about red dye 3's potential impact on kids. The additive been connected to behavioural issues in children, and a 2021 report from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found that kids who ate red dye 3 (along with other food dyes) were more likely to struggle with hyperactivity and trouble focusing.
But Keatley says those concerned with red dye 3's link to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are 'barking up the wrong tree.'
'We don’t consume much red dye No.3 over the course of a day, a week, or a month, and comparing our intake to those of rats in studies is apples to oranges,' he says. 'More important concerns should be emissions from trucks and cars, lack of physical activity in schools, and the consumption of primarily junk food.'
There's no need to panic over the additive for now. 'Manufacturers will have until Jan 15, 2027, to remove red dye No. 3 from their food products,' Syers points out. 'For the time being, if you are concerned about consuming red dye No.3, you can check your ingredient lists for Red 3 and limit your purchases of those products.'
From: Women's Health US
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