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FDA ban on dye Red 3 sparks calls for more food safety reform: "It's about time"

FDA ban on red 3 sparks calls for more food safety reform
FDA ban on red 3 sparks calls for more food safety reform 03:09

MIAMI - The FDA's decision to ban the synthetic dye Red 3 is being hailed by health experts as a step toward improving the nation's food safety.

Many insist it's only the beginning of much-needed reform.

"This is kind of the opening of Pandora's box with this very important topic in the foods that we eat," said Dr. Natasha Mendez, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Broward Health Medical Center.

Dr. Mendez explained that health professionals have warned about the dangers of synthetic dyes like Red 3 for decades.

"A lot of different countries around the world already have bans on other dyes like Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and Red 40, which have also been linked to early-onset colorectal cancer," she said.

What is dye Red 3 and what are its potential health risks?

Red 3, often used in cakes, candies and drinks to achieve a bright cherry-red color, has long been criticized for its health risks.

The dye was banned from cosmetics in the 1990s after studies linked it to thyroid tumors in rats, but it remained legal in food products in the U.S.

FDA bans red dye number 3 04:04

Vani Hari, founder of The Food Babe blog and a long-time advocate for food safety, applauded the FDA's decision.

"It was banned over 30 years ago when they found out that rats, when they're given Red 3, create tumors in their bodies," Hari said.

"Here in the United States, there's over 200,000 pounds of it being used in products, even in those given to children and cancer patients."

Hari credited a recent bipartisan Senate hearing for pressuring the FDA to act.

"This is a huge win for public health, but there's still more to be done to hold the food industry accountable," she said.

Manufacturers who use FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs will have until Jan. 15, 2027 or Jan. 18, 2028, respectively, to reformulate their products.

Health advocates hope the move will pave the way for further action on other synthetic food dyes.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story included a quote from a Florida resident saying Gatorade has Red 3. PepsiCo clarified they don't use Red 3 in any of their products, including Gatorade.

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