FDA bans Red Dye #3, very popular in beverages, sweets, candies and other foods, in the United States
This dye had already been banned in cosmetics and medicines since the 1990s.
January 15 2025
The FDA announced on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, that it is banning the use of colorante artificial Rojo No. 3, a synthetic colorant that gives foods and beverages their bright cherry-red color. This follows decades of debate over its potential health risks (likely linked to cancer in animals and childhood conditions – childhood conduct disorder and hyperactivity).
This colorant is used in thousands of foods, including candy, cereals, cherries in fruit cocktails, and strawberry-flavored milkshakes. This decision affects a wide range of products that use this colorant to improve their appearance, which also poses other significant challenges for manufacturers, importers, and distributors.
¿What is Red No. 3?
In various industries, companies change the names of a product, in order to avoid certain very inquisitive consumers. For example, the sugar added to millions of products is also labeled as glucose, sucrose, dextrose, glucose syrup, fructose, oligofructose, fructose syrup, caramel, honey, concentrated fruit juice, etc.
The case of dye is no exception. Red #3 dye is also known as erythrosine, E127, C.I.No.: 45430, Acid Violet 051, Food Red 014, Red 3, Iodoeosine, and Erythrosine BS.
Erythrosine, or Red #3, is an organoiodine compound, specifically a derivative of fluorone. It is a dye that has been used for over a century in a wide variety of sectors. The dye was discovered by Swiss chemist Karl Kussmaul at the University of Basel in 1876 and was soon marketed by the local company Bindschedler & Busch to dye wool and silk. Its use as a food coloring was legalized in the U.S. by the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. It is also used in printing inks.
¿How was the ban achieved?
Its use in cosmetics, topical medications, and some foods had been banned since 1990. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a food safety advocacy group, petitioned the FDA in 2022 to end its use. The FDA’s decision is a victory for consumer advocacy groups and some U.S. lawmakers who had long urged the agency to revoke approval of Red No. 3.