The FDA has officially banned this known carcinogen from our food and drugs—and we think it’s about time
Key Takeaways
Industry Buzz
"Regardless of who you voted for, when a known carcinogen gets removed from our food supply, just cheer, and let whatever side helped this happen get the w[in]. There are plenty more where red dye 3 came from. We are decades behind Europe, for example." — Pharmacist on Reddit @pharmd109
"The FDA is actually fulfilling their job responsibilities. This is wild." — Reddit user @WjorgonFriskk
The FDA announced its decision to ban red dye No. 3 in foods and ingested drugs on Wednesday, January 15—a regulatory milestone more than 30 years in the making.
The additive, widely used in candy, juices, and meat products, has been linked to thyroid tumors in male rats since the early 1980s. This action brings the United States in closer alignment with Europe, where red dye No. 3 has been banned in most consumer products since 1994.[]
@goodhousekeepingofficial The #FDA just banned #RedDye No.3 from foods. Our Nutrition Lab Director is here to break down everything you need to know, including what red dye is and what foods have it. #HealthTok #LearnOnTikTok ♬ Write This Down (Instrumental) - SoulChef
Decades of inaction
The road to this ban has been fraught with delays and industry resistance. Despite a 1990 ban on use of the dye in cosmetics, baked goods, and ice cream, it remained prevalent in other foods, a decision critics attribute to “concerted industry pressure.”[]
Petitioners, including the Environmental Working Group and the Center for Science in the Public Interest, repeatedly invoked the Delaney Clause in the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which prohibits the FDA from authorizing additives shown to cause cancer in humans or animals.
FDA officials ultimately acknowledged the validity of these concerns. Jim Jones, a food regulator at the agency, noted that the clause effectively required action. However, Jones also clarified that the carcinogenic mechanism observed in male rats does not occur in humans—a nuance that complicates the narrative but underscores the agency’s adherence to regulatory mandates.
What to expect
Food manufacturers have until January 2027 to phase out red dye No. 3, while pharmaceutical companies have until January 2028. Notably, industry groups have signaled cooperation rather than resistance, a shift from their earlier stance. For instance, the National Confectioners Association emphasized its commitment to FDA safety standards in a statement, while the Consumer Brands Association praised the agency’s risk-based approach.
@susana.ritchey.rd #red3 #erythrosine #fooddye #fda #banned #dietitiansoftoktik #science #evidencebased ♬ original sound - Susana Ritchey, RD
This newfound compliance follows years of advocacy that pressured the FDA to prioritize public health over industry interests. California’s 2023 decision to ban red dye No. 3 and other additives increased this pressure, as companies complained about the potential of having to navigate patchwork regulations.
Related: PEZ and other candies may be hard to get in California in the coming yearsRemaining challenges
The ban on red dye No. 3 is part of a broader FDA effort to enhance food safety. Recent initiatives include proposed nicotine limits in tobacco products and new nutrition labeling requirements that will warn of high sodium, sugar, and saturated fat levels.
However, these efforts face significant resource constraints. The FDA’s 2024 request for $19 million to improve its chemical safety program was denied by Congress, raising concerns about the pace of future regulatory actions.
This funding shortfall highlights a critical issue: While the FDA’s actions represent progress, the agency’s ability to proactively assess and regulate food additives remains limited. For healthcare professionals, this underscores the importance of advocating for evidence-based policy and continued vigilance in evaluating the safety of dietary components.
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