FDA Bans Red Dye No. 3 From Food
Food safety experts and advocates applaud the move while urging additional progress
In a decision long anticipated by food safety experts, the Food and Drug Administration announced today that it is banning Red Dye No. 3 from food.
The FDA has been aware for years that this petroleum-based artificial colorant has been shown to cause cancer in animals. Several studies have also linked ingestion of Red Dye No. 3, also known as erythrosine, to hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral effects in children.
The FDA had already banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 in cosmetics in 1990 after evidence began to mount about its potential harms. But, for complicated bureaucratic reasons, the dye was still allowed in food, and the food industry continued to say it was safe to consume. Over the years, Red Dye No. 3 has been used to brighten the reds and pinks of thousands of foods, including candy, baked goods, fruit juice, fruit cocktail, strawberry milk, hot dogs, fake bacon, and more. A database maintained by the Environmental Working Group currently identifies it among the ingredients of more than 3,000 products.
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