In a long-awaited decision, the Food and Drug Administration announced this week that it would ban the use of Red Dye No. 3 (RD3) in foods. Food companies have until 2027 to remove it, while pharmaceutical companies have until 2028.
The move comes after years of advocacy from organizations highlighting evidence of how RD3 caused cancer in animals. It has been banned in cosmetics since 1990, but remains present in thousands of food and drink products.
Recent research further highlights the dangers of this chemical coloring in food. A 2021 study by California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found that synthetic dyes like RD3 are linked to a higher risk of behavioral difficulties in children, including decreased attention span and memory problems.
“We would not be celebrating this historic decision today without the relentless leadership of public health champions like Michael Jacobson and others who took on this fight decades ago on behalf of consumers,” said the president and co. -founder of the Environmental Working Group (EWG). ) Ken Cook, in a declaration celebrating the announcement.
RD3 has been identified as a particularly harmful food coloring because studies show it causes cancer in animals. Synthetic food colorings are not banned in Europe, but producers are required to put cigarette-like labels on packages explaining the risks. Most products use curcumin for yellow, spirulina for blue and carotenoids for red and orange.
“Today’s action by the FDA marks a monumental victory for consumer health and safety,” Cook said. “For years, Red 3 remained in food products, despite growing evidence linking it to health problems, particularly in children.”
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“This ban sends a strong message that protecting the health of Americans, especially vulnerable children, must always take priority over the narrow interests of the food industry.”
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GNN latest report on food colorings when yellow dye No. 5, called tartrazine and derived from coal processing, was in the regulatory crosshairs for its effects on children linked to hyperactivity. YD5 is still permitted for use as a food additive, despite its links to many diseases, including cancer, asthma, and ADD/ADHD.
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