FDA issues nationwide ban on red dye no. 3 in food, drinks, and ingested drugs

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The U.S. FDA has issued a nationwide ban on Red Dye No. 3 in food, beverages, and both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. This synthetic dye, previously linked to cancer in animal studies, was already prohibited in cosmetics and topical drugs over three decades ago. The ban represents a significant public health measure, reflecting the FDA's commitment to eliminating potentially harmful substances from consumable products. Manufacturers are required to reformulate their products to comply with the new regulations, ensuring safer alternatives are used in place of Red Dye No. 3.

Source

McCann, D., Barrett, A., Cooper, A., Crumpler, D., Dalen, L., Grimshaw, K., Kitchin, E., Lok, K., Porteous, L., Prince, E., Sonuga-Barke, E., Warner, J. O., & Stevenson, J. (2007). Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet (London, England), 370(9598), 1560–1567. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61306-3

Additional Reading

https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/15/health/red-dye-no-3-ban-fda-wellness/index.html

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/red-3-dye-foods/story?id=117751867

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/fda-bans-red-dye-no-3-from-food-drugs-citing-cancer-risks

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