Some of our childhoods consisted of drinking strawberry milk at the school’s cafeteria during lunchtime, dipping our fingers in red Birthday cake frosting because we couldn’t wait for it to be served, receiving Branch’s Conversation Hearts from our friends on Valentine’s Day, and eating Cady Corn on the days leading to Halloween.
As nostalgic as all those foods may sound, it might come as a shocking yet sad surprise to find out that, before the end of this month, most of them will cease to exist as we know them or be banished entirely.
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Although all those foods may be completely different from each other, they all have one element in common that has been identified as harmful for human consumption.
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The food dye Red No. 3 is a petroleum-based dye that has been used to dye a wide range of drugs and foods, such as candy, beverages, snacks, condiments, and supplements, for over five decades.
Child holding gummy candy with both hands.
The troubling history behind food dye Red No. 3
In 2022, the agency agreed to review a petition asking to ban the food dye Red No. 3 due to concerns over its safety, as it has been linked to cancer.
However, this is not the first time food dye has been questioned. In 1990, the FDA effectively banned Red No. 3 in cosmetics, ointments, and lotions, yet it still allowed its continued use in food and deemed it safe for consumption in small amounts.
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On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the ban of Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs across the U.S., stating that it infringes on the Delaney Clause of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act (FC&C Act).
The Delaney Clause of the FC&C Act prohibits the incorporation of cancer-causing food additives in foods, drugs, and cosmetics.
The FDA clears up rumors that the food dye Red No. 3 causes cancer
According to the announcement, two studies that were used to back up the petition to ban the food dye have shown that male rats exposed to high levels of Red No. 3 developed cancer due to a specific hormonal mechanism.
However, the FDA stated that “the way that FD&C Red No. 3 causes cancer in male rats does not occur in humans.”
The exposure levels for humans are typically much lower than those tested on the male rats, and studies done on other animals didn’t show the same results, concluding that the available scientific information doesn’t support the cancer claims.
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Although the ban on Red No. 3 will completely change some Americans’ favorite foods and beverages as we know them, this doesn’t necessarily mean they will be banished from our lives.
Many other food manufacturers make food and beverages similar to the branded ones without Red No. 3, which could be a great alternative. In contrast, these companies make the necessary changes to their ingredients list.
Additionally, the U.S. is not the first country to ban Red No. 3; the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand have restricted its use years before. This means some American products containing Red No. 3 have already been modified to comply with regulations abroad and can easily be replaced in the U.S.
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For those still worried about accidentally consuming food or medicine containing Red No. 3, here are the products whose ingredients list may need a closer look:
Candy: Red or pink-colored sweets in gummy, licorice, or hard candy form. Baked Goods: Red or pink-colored frosting or icing, sprinkles, and batter.Beverages: Red or pink-colored drinks or milk-like products.Snacks: Red or pink-colored fruit snacks, gelatine-based desserts, and frozen snacks. Drugs/Supplements: Red or pink-colored chewable vitamins, cough syrups, and supplements like protein powder or pre-workout.
The FDA ended its announcement by setting a date for implementation, stating, “Manufacturers who use FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs will have until January 15, 2027, or January 18, 2028, respectively, to reformulate their products. Other countries still currently allow for certain uses of FD&C Red No. 3 (called erythrosine in other countries). However, foods imported to the U.S. must comply with U.S. requirements.”
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