These Are The Foods Affected By The Red 3 Dye Ban — And How They Can Endanger Your Health

Bright-red Valentine’s Day candy hearts, strawberry-flavored ice pops and yogurt, some maraschino cherries, nutrition shakes, cough syrups and gummy vitamins — these are just some of the items that contain the synthetic food coloring Red 3, which the Food and Drug Administration banned this week.

The FDA announced on Jan. 15 that it’s “amending its color additive regulations” to stop the use of Red 3 dye, also known as FD&C Red No. 3 or erythrosine, in foods and “ingested drugs.” The petroleum-based dye has been banned in cosmetics since 1990, when a study showed that it caused cancer in rats when it was eaten.

“This is an important decision because it addresses the concerns of many people regarding the safety of this chemical in food,” Dr. Jonathan Jennings, an internist at Medical Offices of Manhattan, told HuffPost.

The ban is in response to a 2022 petition filed by several food safety and health advocates to remove the vibrant coloring that was authorized for use in hundreds of foods, drinks and medications. The FDA cited the Delaney Clause of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), which requires the agency to ban additives found to cause cancer in people or animals.

“As more evidence becomes available regarding the possible negative health effects of synthetic food additives used in more highly processed foods, it makes sense to reduce or eliminate those ingredients when possible,” said Kristine Dilley, a registered dietitian nutritionist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Here’s what you should know about the health risks of Red 3 and how the ban will affect some of your favorite foods.

Why is the Red 3 ban significant?

“The FDA’s decision to officially ban Red 3 from the food supply is a significant step in protecting public health,” explained Jennifer Ventrelle, a registered dietitian nutritionist and assistant professor of preventative medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

She said it also “aligns with consumer demand for safer, cleaner food products,” and the ban encourages the use of more natural, non-toxic alternatives and underscores the FDA’s commitment to safety.

While color and other aesthetics enhance the enjoyment of foods and drinks, natural color sources — like beet juice, red cabbage and radishes — are risk-free alternatives, Dilley said. So are anthocyanins, pigments naturally found in berries that give them their red, purple and blue hues, Ventrelle added.

Europe, Australia and New Zealand also ban Red 3 for food most food use. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation last year that will ban certain food dyes starting in 2027, and bills limiting synthetic dyes in foods have been filed in other states.

What foods will be affected?

“There are currently hundreds of foods and medicines that contain this dye,” said Dr. Brintha Vasagar, a family physician in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

These include most items with red, pink or rainbow colors, like cereal, cake, candy, cookies, cakes, frostings, drinks, vitamins, supplements, maraschino cherries, cough syrup and more. Some examples include Brach’s Conversation Hearts and Candy Corn, Betty Crocker Red Decorating Cookie Icing and Ensure Original Strawberry Nutrition Shake.

Many food and drug companies also use another red food dye, Red 40, which may pose some health risks, too.

Red 3 is also sometimes used in imitation bacon bits, sausages and seasoning packets that appear to have a “natural red color but are enhanced with the dye,” Dilley said.

When does the ban go into effect?

The ban isn’t immediate, Dilley noted. Food manufacturers have until Jan. 15, 2027, to reformulate their products to remove Red 3, the FDA says. Drugmakers have until Jan. 18, 2028.

“But concerned families can always read labels, talk to their family doctor and cut out products which contain ingredients that are concerning to them,” Vasagar said. “Limiting processed foods is a great first step in cutting out all dyes, including other artificial food dyes, which have not been banned.”

Check food ingredient labels for Red 3, FD&C Red No. 3 or erythrosine to avoid the coloring until the ban goes into effect, Ventrelle said.

What are the potential health risks of Red 3?

Animal studies have linked Red 3 in high amounts to cancer in rats, but there’s no evidence that it can also cause cancer in humans, Vasagar said. Still, this research is what led the FDA to ban the dye in cosmetics more than three decades ago.

“While the direct research on Red Dye No. 3 has been conducted in animals, and we don’t yet have conclusive evidence of harm to humans, these findings provide important information that helps us take proactive steps to protect against potential risks,” Ventrelle said.

Harlivleen Gill, president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, said in a statement, “It is important to note that no one ingredient or food increases cancer risk. It is the amounts and patterns of food consumed over time, along with other genetic and lifestyle factors, that influence health risk.”

Some studies have also suggested a link between food dyes and hyperactivity in children, but Vasagar noted that there’s not enough robust data on the subject. It’s also important to note that many red-colored foods, like candy, baked goods and sodas, often contain high amounts of sugar and caffeine, which might lead to hyperactivity, Jennings added.

What long-term effect will the ban have on health?

While the Red 3 ban may address some food safety concerns, Jennings and Vasagar say people should focus more on the health impact of their overall daily diets.

“The removal of the dye does not make excessive ingestion of processed foods safer,” Jennings said, adding that consuming excess sugar, often found in these items, can lead to obesity, which is linked to cancer, diabetes and other chronic conditions.

Simply eliminating Red 3 will have “far less health benefits” than quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, increasing exercise and eliminating ultra-processed foods, Vasagar added.

“This is a nice reminder to eat real, whole foods,” Ventrelle said, including fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats.