In January 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a statement regarding plans to ban a commonly used food dye.
In April 2025, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced more extensive plans to remove certain artificial dyes from the U.S. food and drug supply, calling the dyes “poison” in a press conference.
Red dye 3, however, was already in the process of being phased out under a Biden-era mandate, with a statement from the FDA announcing the plans on Jan. 15. The Trump administration has since asked that the deadline for the process be moved up, along with the FDA’s plans to “phase out” petroleum-based synthetic dyes by the end of next year.
Here’s what to know about the food dye ban that predates Kennedy’s April announcement.
What is red dye 3?
The Cleveland Clinic explains that red dye 3, technically named erythrosine and also referred to as red 3, FD&C red No. 3 and FD&C red 3, is used to add a bright red color to many ultra-processed foods and drinks.
Maraschino cherries are often colored with Red Dye #3, a food additive.
Why is red dye 3 being banned?
According to the FDA’s statement, two studies showed cancer in laboratory rats exposed to high levels of red dye 3. However, the statement noted that the way that the dye causes cancer in rats does not occur in humans.
“Studies in other animals and in humans did not show these effects; claims that the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in food and in ingested drugs puts people at risk are not supported by the available scientific information,” the statement said.
Despite this reassurance, the terms of the Delaney Clause, which was enacted in 1960 as part of the Color Additives Amendment to the FD&C Act, prohibits FDA authorization of a food or color additive if it has been found to induce cancer in humans or animals.
The Cleveland Clinic added that the FDA “has had its eye on red dye 3 for awhile,” citing the administration’s 1990 ban on the dye from use in cosmetics and medications applied to the skin.
When is red dye 3 being banned?
Originally, the FDA mandated deadlines for manufacturers to remove red dye 3 from products of Jan. 15, 2027, for foods and Jan. 18, 2028, for ingested drugs.
In an April 22, 2025, news release from the FDA following the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term, the administration announced plans to request that food companies remove the dye “sooner than the 2027-2028 deadline previously required.”
What does red 3 do to your body? Red dye 3 side effects
The Cleveland Clinic adds that the dye has been linked in studies to behavioral issues in children. In 2021, California’s Environmental Protection Agency issued its review of available studies, which showed synthetic food dyes to be associated with “adverse neurobehavioral effects,” such as hyperactivity, inattentiveness and restlessness, in children who are sensitive to them.
What items have red dye 3 in them?
The Cleveland Clinic explained that the U.S. Environmental Working Group’s database lists more than 3,000 foods made with red dye 3. The list includes some brands and types of:
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Fruit juice and fruit cocktail
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Imitation bacon bits and products that include them, like canned baked beans
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Strawberry-flavored milk, nutritional shakes and protein powders
The dye is also found in some over-the-counter and prescription medications, including but not limited to:
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Acetaminophen, an over-the-counter pain reliever
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Fluoxetine, an antidepressant
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Gabapentin, which treats nerve pain and helps prevent seizures
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Omeprazole, which treats chronic acid reflux and related conditions
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Phentermine, a prescription appetite suppressant
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Vyvanse, an ADHD medication
Are red 3 and red 40 the same?
No, red dye 3 and red dye 40 are not the same. Red dye 40, made of a chemical compound called Allura red AC, is already banned in California, and is among the dyes that the FDA plans to eliminate, according to the April 22 statement.
“Red dye 40 has been linked to many of the same health concerns as red dye 3, so it’s not necessarily a healthier alternative,” says an article from WebMD.
Red dye 40 is among a list of six further dyes the FDA announced plans to ban in April 2025.
Is food dye being banned in the US?
According to the FDA’s April 22, 2025, news release, the administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plan to “phase out all petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply.”
Apart from plans to fast-track the removal of red dye 3 from U.S. products, the following actions associated with this missive were announced in the release:
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“Establishing a national standard and timeline for the food industry to transition from petrochemical-based dyes to natural alternatives.”
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Initiating the process of revoking authorization for the use of synthetic food dyes citrus red No. 2 and orange B within the coming months.
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“Working with industry” to work towards eliminating six further synthetic dyes including FD&C green No. 3, FD&C red No. 40, FD&C yellow No. 5, FD&C yellow No. 6, FD&C blue No. 1, and FD&C blue No. 2 from the U.S. food supply “by the end of next year.”
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Authorizing four new natural color additives – calcium phosphate, Galdieria extract blue, gardenia blue and butterfly pea flower extract – in coming weeks, while “accelerating the review and approval of others.
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Partnering with the National Institutes of Health to research how food additives impact the health and development of children.
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Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Why is red dye 3 being banned? Here’s what products contain red dye 3
