US bans popular red dye from foods 35 years after it was banned in cosmetics

The FDA today has issued an order today that will ban Red No.3 from food products and ingested drugs.The dye, which was approved to use in 1907, has been banned in cosmetics and topical drugs since 1990 over evidence that it can cause cancer.

Its use in food is already banned or restricted in Australia, Japan and countries in the EU.Red No.3.

is commonly found in candy, gum, and cookies, including Brach’s candy corn, Betty Crocker sprinkles, and strawberry Ensure.Food manufacturers will have until January 15, 2027 to remove it from all products, while makers of ingested drugs will have until January 18, 2028.The new ban is based on the Delaney Clause of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which was enacted in 1960.The Delaney Clause prohibits the FDA from authorizing any food or color additive that has been found to cause cancer.“The FDA cannot authorize a food additive or color additive if it has been found to cause cancer in human or animals,” said Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy director for human foods, according to NBC.

“Evidence shows cancer in laboratory male rats exposed to high levels of FD&C Red No.3.”...