Written by Mark Peterson.
For decades, bright red candies and vividly hued snack cakes have been a staple of grocery store shelves and children’s lunchboxes. But now, a long-debated ingredient that gave these foods their eye-catching allure is finally being removed. On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a nationwide ban on the use of Red Dye No. 3 in foods, marking the end of a controversial chapter in food safety regulation. The decision comes nearly 35 years after the dye was banned from cosmetics due to its potential link to cancer.
Why Was Red 3 Banned?
Red Dye No. 3, also known as erythrosine, has long been a topic of concern for food safety advocates. The dye’s troubles began in the 1980s when research revealed that high doses of it caused cancer in male lab rats. This discovery prompted the FDA to remove Red 3 from cosmetics and topically applied drugs in 1990. However, the same regulatory action was not extended to foods and ingested medicines at that time.
Fast forward to 2022, when a coalition of two dozen food safety and health advocacy groups filed a petition urging the FDA to reconsider. Their case relied on the Delaney Clause, a provision of federal law requiring the FDA to ban any additive found to cause cancer in humans or animals. The agency’s recent decision to grant the petition was framed as a “matter of law,” cementing the ban’s inevitability.
Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, summarized the situation succinctly: “Evidence shows cancer in laboratory male rats exposed to high levels of FD&C Red No. 3. Importantly, the way that FD&C Red No. 3 causes cancer in male rats does not occur in humans.” Still, the agency decided to act in the interest of public safety.
What Happens Next?
Under the new ruling, food manufacturers have until January 2027 to remove Red 3 from their products. Makers of ingested drugs, such as cough syrups, have a slightly longer timeline, with a compliance deadline set for January 2028. Imported foods must also meet the updated requirements to enter U.S. markets.
Consumer advocates are celebrating this decision as a long-overdue step forward. “This is a welcome, but long overdue, action from the FDA: removing the unsustainable double standard in which Red 3 was banned from lipstick but permitted in candy,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the group that led the petition effort.
However, the FDA’s decision is not without potential hurdles. Food manufacturers could mount legal challenges, arguing that the evidence linking Red 3 to cancer in humans is inconclusive. FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf acknowledged this possibility, stating at a December hearing, “When we do ban something, it will go to court. And if we don’t have the scientific evidence, we will lose in court.”
The Bigger Picture: A Shift in Public Attitudes
The ban on Red 3 reflects broader shifts in consumer expectations and regulatory priorities. A recent poll by AP-NORC found that two-thirds of Americans support restricting or reformulating processed foods to eliminate harmful ingredients like added dyes and sugars. Support for these measures is particularly strong among college-educated adults and higher-income households, where 8 in 10 and 7 in 10, respectively, favor such restrictions.
Children are a key focus of these efforts. Lawmakers and health advocates have pointed out that kids consume more of these dyes on a bodyweight basis than adults, making them especially vulnerable. Nearly two dozen members of Congress echoed these concerns in a letter to the FDA last November, urging swift action to protect young consumers.
This isn’t just an American phenomenon. Red 3 is already banned for food use in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, except for certain types of cherries. California will follow suit with a state-level ban starting in January 2027. Other states, including Tennessee, Arkansas, and Indiana, are also considering restrictions, particularly in public schools.
What Alternatives Will Manufacturers Use?
The good news is that Red 3’s departure from the food supply doesn’t mean the end of colorful snacks and candies. Many manufacturers have already begun phasing out the dye in favor of natural alternatives. Common replacements include beet juice, carmine (a dye derived from insects), and pigments extracted from foods like purple sweet potatoes, radishes, and red cabbage. These options not only avoid the health concerns associated with synthetic dyes but also cater to growing consumer demand for clean-label products.
For instance, Sensient Food Colors, a major supplier of food colorings, has been working with manufacturers to implement these natural alternatives. While these replacements may come at a slightly higher cost, they offer a safer and more sustainable way to meet consumer preferences.
Our Take
The FDA’s ban on Red Dye No. 3 is a step in the right direction, but it’s also a reminder of how long it can take for science to translate into policy. While the agency’s cautious approach may have been necessary to withstand potential legal challenges, the delay has left generations of consumers exposed to unnecessary risks. It’s hard to justify allowing a known carcinogen in foods while banning it in cosmetics, and this inconsistency has rightly drawn criticism from advocates and lawmakers alike.
From a conservative perspective, this issue underscores the importance of government accountability. Bureaucratic delays and regulatory loopholes shouldn’t stand in the way of public safety. At the same time, it’s essential to balance these actions with respect for scientific evidence and the economic implications for businesses. While some may view the ban as government overreach, the broader goal of protecting consumers—especially children—is one that transcends partisan divides.
