FDA to Ban Red Food Dye No. 3 in Food & Ingested Drugs by 2028
35 years after banning Red Food Dye No. 3 from use in cosmetics due to potential cancer links, the FDA will revoke authorization for the dye’s use in ingestible products within the United States. This move will align the U.S. with countries like the European Union, New Zealand and Australia which have also implemented bans on the controversial additive.
Food manufacturers have until January 15th, 2027, and drug manufacturers have until January 18th, 2028, to remove red food dye No. 3 from their products. The dye, which has no nutritional value and is added for purely aesthetic purposes, has long been under scrutiny for its potential health risks.
While some studies have linked the dye to cancer in animals, particularly due to a hormone reaction specific to male rats that humans do not produce, the topic has been a point of debate and concern for years. This decision reflects the growing focus on consumer safety as well as the shift towards more natural food colorants and a reduction in artificial chemicals as additives in food and medication.
As the deadline for compliance approaches, manufacturers will need to adjust their production lines to meet the new regulations, and it remains to be seen how this will unfold across the food and drug markets. Nevertheless, this decision marks an important step to reducing potential risks from synthetic additives in American consumables.