What to know about Red No. 3, and its possible health effects.
The Food and Drug Administration may ban a popular food dye found in candy, yogurt, and other common grocery store items. The agency has been reviewing a petition against the additive since 2022, and a spokesperson has said that a decision could come “soon.”
We’re breaking down the controversy over Red No. 3, why it’s already restricted in several countries, and the other additive the FDA might crack down on next.
What is Red No. 3?
Red No. 3, or Erythrosine, is a petroleum-based dye that colors food a cherry red. It was first approved by the FDA in 1969, although research shows that it could cause cancer in animals, when consumed in large amounts. The agency halted the use of Red No. 3 in cosmetics in 1990, based on evidence that it caused cancer in rats, NPR reports. However, the FDA has said that it’s evaluated the product’s safety in food “multiple times” and maintains that it’s not harmful in the amount it’s consumed.
Foods with Red Dye No. 3
Still, doubts remain about the additive, which can be found in candy corn, Hot Tamales, PEZ, some flavored yogurts, cereals, and sodas. In 2021, California’s Environmental Protection Agency conducted a review of the research on Red No. 3 and other synthetic food dyes, concluding that they’re linked to “hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral problems in some children.”
California became the first state to pass a bill banning Red No. 3 last year, and according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, several others are considering legislation that would do the same. The dye is already banned from most foods in the E.U., U.K., Japan, China, and several other countries.
What is Red 40?
Red No. 40 — also called Allura Red AC, FD&C Red 40, or E129 — is another additive that’s come under the microscope lately.
Like Red No. 3, it’s been linked to neurobehavioral problems in some children and cancer in animal studies. A study last year also raised concerns that it could trigger gut inflammation. In September, California banned it along with five other synthetic dyes from meals and drinks served in its public schools.
Foods with Red Dye 40
It’s very common and can be found in popular cereals marketed to children, such as Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles, and Trix, as well as in popular candies like Skittles and M&M’s.
Unlike Red No. 3, Red 40 is still used in foods in Europe, but those products must carry a label warning that the dye “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children,” The New York Times reports.
Despite mounting public pressure — including a large protest this fall outside the headquarters of Kellogg’s, which produces several products containing the dye — the FDA hasn’t signaled whether or not it could be prohibited in the near future.
