In a landmark decision announced Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially banned Red Dye No. 3, a synthetic coloring agent linked to cancer in animal studies. The dye, which is still used in more than 9,200 food products, has faced growing scrutiny for its potential health risks.
Red Dye No. 3 can be found in a wide array of everyday items, including popular candies, breakfast cereals, cherries in fruit cocktails, and strawberry-flavored milkshakes. Advocacy groups, lawmakers, and health experts have long pushed for its removal, citing not only cancer risks but also potential behavioral impacts on children.
The FDA’s decision follows a 2022 petition by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which emphasized the dye’s pervasive use in food products from leading companies. Consumer advocacy groups are celebrating the ban as a significant victory in the fight for safer food additives.
While this decision marks progress, it stops short of addressing other controversial artificial dyes, such as Red Dye No. 40, which remains widely used despite ongoing concerns about its effects on children’s behavior.
The move is expected to prompt major changes in food manufacturing, as companies adjust to comply with the ban and explore alternative coloring options. For consumers, it signals a growing emphasis on prioritizing health and safety in food regulations.
Source: NBC News
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