FDA Bans Red No. 3 Dye in Food & Drugs

On Jan. 15, 2025, the FDA announced the ban of Red No. 3, an artificial dye additive used to give thousands of food products a vibrant red color.

Many maraschino cherries are made with Red No. 3. (Photo: Millefore Images/Getty Images)

Concerns about artificial food dyes have been around for decades.

The FDA singled out Red No. 3 because animal studies suggest it could increase the risk of thyroid cancer. Many studies link artificial food dyes to hyperactivity and poor attention in kids. One Nature study also linked another food dye (Red No. 40) to an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease in mice.

Should you worry about red dye effects or the potential harm of other food dyes, for that matter? Let’s dig into the science.

What is Red No. 3, and why did the FDA ban it?

Red No. 3, also called erythrosine, is an artificial food coloring. Made from petroleum, it is found in some candies, processed foods and drinks.

A study from the late 1980s that found Red No. 3 upped the risk of thyroid cancer in rats. However, it is important to note that the rats ate far higher amounts of food dye than a human could ever consume.

The FDA’s decision to ban Red No. 3 comes after a petition from several organizations asking the agency to ban its use, noting the potential link to cancer risks.

Manufacturers will have until Jan. 15, 2027, to remove Red 3 from their products. Companies that produce ingested drugs will have an additional year to remove the additive.

Before the FDA updated its guidance to remove the use of the additive nationwide, 10 states had already created legislation restricting the dye.

The U.S. is the latest country to have banned or restricted Red No. 3; others who have nixed the dye include Canada, Australia, China, Japan and European Union countries.

What foods and drinks have Red No. 3?

Some food items that are made with Red No. 3 include:

• Candies: Pez Assorted Fruit, Dubble Bubble Original Twist, Brach’s Candy Corn and Conversation Hearts, and Jelly Belly. Other red candies, like Swedish Fish and Wild Cherry Lifesavers, use Red No. 40.
• Baked goods and snacks: Entenmann’s Little Bites Party Cake Mini Muffins, Betty Crocker Fruit by the Foot, Toaster pastries, red decorating icing and cookies with red icing or decorations. But Pillsbury’s Funfetti Valentine’s Day Vanilla Frosting, which is swirled with tiny red hearts, used Red No. 40.
• Dairy and frozen foods: Strawberry flavored milk, ice cream, frozen yogurt and popsicles. TruMoo Strawberry Whole Milk contains Red No. 3, but Edy’s Strawberry Ice Cream and Posicle-brand fruit pops both use beet juice for coloring.
• Fruit products: Many maraschino cherries and some fruit cocktails.
• Beverages: Strawberry-flavored Yoo-hoo, Ensure Original Strawberry Nutrition Shake, some sodas and fruit drinks. But many beverage brands use Red No. 40, including Hawaiian Punch and Kool-Aid, Fanta and Jarritos strawberry sodas and Faygo black cherry soda.
• Medications like some cough syrups, gummy vitamins and strawberry-flavored PediaSure. But others use natural coloring or alternate dyes. Vicks Formula 44, Luden’s and Halls cough drops all use Red 40. Mucinex Children’s Cough Syrup, Robitussen Adult Cough and Chest Congestion and Vick’s NyQuil Cold and Flu also use Red 40.

 
According to the Environmental Working Group, more than 3,000 products contain Red No. 3. Red No. 3 was banned from use in cosmetics in the U.S. in 1990

The best way to know if something contains Red No. 3 is to read the label. (Photo: Getty Images)

How to know what foods contain artificial dyes

Artificial food dyes are often found in candy, some sugary drinks and processed baked goods, like Pop Tarts. Some frozen desserts and many frostings also contain these dyes.

It is always good to read labels because some items contain artificial food dyes that you might not expect. For example, maraschino cherries often contain red food dye, as do some meal replacement drinks that claim to be healthy.

Look for the chemical names of artificial food dyes, including:

• Allura Red (Red 40)
• Brilliant Blue (Blue 1)
• Erythrosine (Red 3)
• Fast Green (Green 3)
• Indigotine (Blue 2)
• Sunset Yellow (Yellow 6)
• Tartrazine (Yellow 5)

 
Another giveaway is the hue. Artificial colors are usually more vibrant than natural colors. So, if baked goods, candy, cereals and other items are very bright, it is likely they have artificial colors.

Artificial colors are often listed with letters and numbers. These include Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. You may also see the letters FD & C denoting an artificial food dye.

Article written by Bethany S. Hines, RD, Dietetics, UPMC