The FDA has announced a ban on Red No. 3 in food and pharmaceuticals, citing cancer risks in laboratory animals.
At a Glance
- FDA bans Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs due to cancer links in animal studies
- Ban takes effect for food products by January 15, 2027, and for ingested drugs by January 18, 2028
- Over 2,800 food items and several medications currently contain Red No. 3
- FDA maintains the dye does not pose a significant risk to humans
- Consumer advocates praise the decision, while industry groups defend the dye’s safety
FDA Takes Action Against Red No. 3
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a ban on the use of Red No. 3, also known as erythrosine, in food products and ingested pharmaceuticals. This decision comes after decades of concern over the dye’s potential health risks, particularly its link to thyroid cancer in laboratory animals.
RFK Jr. is already winning and he’s not even in office yet!
The ban will be implemented in phases, with food manufacturers required to cease using Red No. 3 by January 15, 2027, and pharmaceutical companies by January 18, 2028. This timeline allows industries to reformulate their products and find suitable alternatives.
Widespread Use and Consumer Impact
Red No. 3 is a petroleum-based color additive that has been widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. It is found in over 2,800 food items on U.S. shelves, including candies, fruit juices, and snack foods. Popular medications such as Tylenol PM, gabapentin, doxycycline, and Vyvanse also contain the dye.
Yes, petroleum based. You’re eating…petroleum.
“There’s a reasonable suspicion that food dyes may be harmful, at least for some kids,” Joel Nigg said.
Children aged 2 to 5 are particularly affected, consuming about twice as much Red No. 3 per body weight compared to the general population. This has raised concerns about potential behavioral issues like ADHD in children linked to artificial food dyes.
The FDA’s decision is based on the Delaney Clause, which mandates the agency to ban any additive found to cause cancer in humans or animals. However, the FDA maintains that Red No. 3 does not pose a significant risk to humans, as the cancer mechanism observed in rats does not occur in humans.
The food and drug industries have been preparing for this change. Some manufacturers have already replaced Red No. 3 with natural alternatives like beet juice, carmine, and pigments from foods like purple sweet potato and red cabbage. The Consumer Brands Association has stated that companies will comply with the FDA’s decision.
Kennedy has been saying this needs to happen for years, and everyone called him a crank.
He’s going to get proven right about a lot of other things, too…
