Red Dye No. 3 Is FINALLY Banned!
But ya still need to check your ingredient lists...
They have officially banned Red Dye No. 3 and the crunchy community is screaming from the mountain tops today. It’s about time!!! Finally! Oh, and if you listen closely you might be able to hear the sound of certain delusional nutritionists crying tears of sadness because the red dye filled foods they have constantly said are “safe to eat” and “should be enjoyed” will either be gone forever or finally swapped out for natural coloring… they definitely are eating their words now! (It does feel good to say that - I have to be honest)
BUT… even with the ban you still need to read ingredient lists!
In a landmark decision, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a ban on Red Dye No. 3, also known as erythrosine or FD&C Red No. 3, from all food products and ingested drugs. Sadly, this synthetic dye has been a staple in the food industry for far too long and used to give candies, baked goods, and other products their bright, cherry-red hue. However, evidence of its potential health risks has led to a significant policy change that will reshape food manufacturing in the United States. It’s happening.
The main reason for this ban is the dye’s link to cancer in laboratory studies. There is research showing that high doses of Red Dye No. 3 causes cancer in rats, which obviously (and finally) concerns enough people about its safety for human consumption. (DUH!) Also, this dye has been banned from cosmetics for over 30 years due to similar safety issues but it has continued to be used in foods and ingested drugs—until now - (insert maniacal laugh)
Read more about food coloring here
The Delaney Clause of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires the FDA to ban additives shown to cause cancer in animals… so this fully aligns. This ban is also consistent with actions taken in other parts of the world, such as the European Union, Japan, and Australia, where similar dyes have long been restricted or prohibited. America is last when it comes to food and nutrition — such a shame.
The health and wellness community, and the “crunchy” community has been raising alarms about the dangers of Red Dye No. 3 for years and years and years. So many of us have long called for its removal from food and personal care products because of its potential harm. So many have laughed at us and called us weird or hippie or even have said that people like me have an eating disorder for refusing to eat food dyes or things like seed oils. Absurd.
What does this mean for food manufacturers? Well don’t get too excited yet because these companies have until January 15, 2027, to remove Red Dye No. 3 from their products. So get excited but not too excited because we have to see 2 years of red dye 3 in food items. And the deadline is January 18, 2028 for drug manufacturers. This timeline really just allows companies to transition to safer alternatives without causing significant disruptions to the market (which I don’t agree with)… but I’m a purist.
This is why you need to read labels and should get in the habit of doing that anyway because manufacturers and brands change ingredients all the time and you definitely should know what you’re consuming. So keep reading labels and stop giving these brands - who do not care about your health at all - your money. They don’t care about you.
The news on this ban on Red Dye No. 3 is a major win for food safety advocates. As the natural products industry continues to change and grow, this decision really shows the shift toward prioritizing health and transparency over cost-cutting measures. People are waking up to the harmful effects of things like food dyes and seed oils and it’s about time.
Next… it’s time to ban the rest of the artificial colors! Let’s gooooooooooooo!