The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially **prohibited Red Dye No. 3**, a synthetic substance utilized to impart a vivid red color to foods, due to its cancer-causing properties. Nevertheless, there’s no cause for alarm if you’ve recently enjoyed treats such as **Betty Crocker Red Icing** or **Brach’s Candy Corn**. The FDA reassures that the amounts of Red Dye No. 3 typically ingested by people are considerably lower than those proven to induce cancer in laboratory tests—and, importantly, you would also need to be a rat for those findings to be relevant.
### What Is Red Dye No. 3?
Also referred to as **erythrosine** or **E127**, Red Dye No. 3 is a petroleum-derived compound often found in candies, baked products, and frozen desserts. The FDA’s choice to prohibit the dye originated from a **2022 petition** spearheaded by entities like the **Center for Science in the Public Interest**, **Breast Cancer Prevention Partners**, **Center for Environmental Health**, and the **Center for Food Safety**. These organizations underscored research indicating that male lab rats developed tumors after receiving substantial doses of the dye.
In a statement, the FDA recognized the evidence but explained that the cancer-causing mechanism seen in rats is unique to their hormonal systems and does not occur in humans. Furthermore, the quantities of Red Dye No. 3 utilized in the studies exceed what people generally encounter. “Research in other animals and humans has not demonstrated these effects,” the FDA noted, emphasizing that assertions of significant risks to humans lack backing from current scientific knowledge.
### Why Ban It Now?
Despite the FDA’s assurances regarding the dye’s limited danger to humans, the agency has opted to prohibit Red Dye No. 3 under the **Delaney Clause** of the **Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act**. This clause disallows FDA endorsement of any chemical additive identified as carcinogenic in humans or animals, irrespective of the amount or specific conditions.
Although Red Dye No. 3 provides no nutritional or flavor advantages, its elimination from the food supply is unlikely to disrupt diets. The **Center for Science in the Public Interest** has celebrated the ban as a “long-overdue victory for public health.” The organization also highlighted that the FDA banned Red Dye No. 3 from cosmetics and topical medications in 1990, while other nations like **Australia**, **New Zealand**, and numerous members of the **European Union** have already limited its use in food.
### Transition Timeline
The FDA has granted food manufacturers a **two-year grace period** to reformulate their items, with the dye expected to be entirely removed from food by **January 15, 2027**. Drug manufacturers have an added year, with a deadline of **January 18, 2028**. Imported foods will also fall under the ban, making it impossible to source Red Dye No. 3 from abroad.
### What About Other Food Dyes?
It’s crucial to understand that Red Dye No. 3 differs from **Red Dye No. 40**, a more commonly utilized additive that remains FDA-approved. While some research has raised alarms about Red Dye No. 40—suggesting it may increase hyperactivity in sensitive children—the prevailing scientific agreement considers it safe for human consumption.
### A Step Forward for Public Health
Even though the FDA asserts that Red Dye No. 3 presents minimal risk to humans, its removal is in line with the growing initiatives to rid the food supply of unnecessary and potentially harmful additives. As the **Center for Science in the Public Interest** highlighted, the ban represents a pivotal advancement, even if it arrives decades after the risks were initially identified.