The FDA banned the additive over cancer concerns. At least 3,183 brand-name food products contain Red No. 3, according to a database.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week said it will ban Red Dye No. 3, a food additive used in thousands of food products sold in U.S. stores.
Even though the dye was banned from certain medications and cosmetics in the early 1990s after a study found it was linked to cancer, it has persisted in appearing in ingredient lists in primarily snacks and other processed foods.
Because there are thousands of food products that contain the additive, here are some of the product categories where the dye is most likely to show up. Shoppers are advised to check food ingredient labels to see if an item includes Red 3, which is also known as erythrosine as well as FD&C Red No. 3.
The synthetic dye is used in cereals, candy, fruit cocktail cherries, strawberry milkshakes, Ensure products, some varieties of Peeps, Brach’s candy corn, Ring Pops, many desserts, and even some meat and dairy products.
Notably, some products that have red coloring don’t use Red 3 but use Red Dye No. 40, or Red 40, instead. Some studies have found that Red 40 may be linked to cancers as well because it contains benzene, a carcinogenic substance, as well as ADHD, migraines, skin irritation, and behavioral issues. The FDA has not signaled whether it wants to ban Red 40 or any other coloring additive.
An Epoch Times review of multiple products containing the dye show that Red 3 or a variation of the product’s name is often listed toward the end of the ingredient list and that a number of items with Red 3 also have Red 40 in their ingredients list.
A database maintained by the Environmental Working Group was able to generate 3,183 brand-name food products that have Red 3, which can be accessed via its website. In the interest of brevity, The Epoch Times will be listing only select items that contain the additive following the FDA’s decision.
