The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially banned Red Dye No. 3 in food, beverages, and ingested drugs in the United States. The Washington Post reported that Red Dye No. 3 must be removed from food products by mid-January 2027 and from ingested drugs by 2028. The FDA cited the Delaney Clause, which prohibits additives known to cause cancer in humans, as the basis for the ban.
“The Delaney Clause is clear; the FDA cannot authorize a food additive or color additive if it has been found to cause cancer in humans or animals,” stated Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, in a statement provided to the press.
Red Dye No. 3 has been predominantly used in various food products such as candy, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, frozen desserts, and frostings and icings. This means that store-bought candy may undergo a color change in the upcoming years due to the ban.
Consumer Reports, in 2022, supported a petition led by the Center for Science in the Public Interest urging the ban of Red Dye No. 3. In October 2024, Consumer Reports submitted a petition signed by over 80,000 consumers to the FDA, advocating for the ban. The organization has now expressed its support for the FDA’s decision to ban Red Dye No. 3.
Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, emphasized the health risks associated with Red Dye No. 3 and highlighted the availability of safer alternatives. He stated, “By banning Red Dye No. 3, the FDA will protect the public by encouraging manufacturers to switch to safer ingredients already used in products sold in Europe and numerous other countries.”
Consumer Reports also intends to continue urging the FDA to ban other synthetic food dyes that have been linked to neurobehavioral problems. Referring to a 2021 study by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Consumer Reports pointed out that several food dyes and colorants, including the six dyes banned under the California School Food Safety Act, could potentially increase children’s susceptibility to behavioral issues.
“Many synthetic food dyes are permitted in food but have not been reassessed for safety by the FDA in decades despite recent studies connecting the chemicals to severe health concerns,” Ronholm emphasized. “It’s time for the FDA to align with the most recent scientific findings and eliminate these harmful chemicals from our food.”
Consumer Reports underlined the importance of ongoing efforts to address synthetic food dyes’ potential health risks and to advocate for safer alternatives in the food industry.
