Possible Prohibition of Artificial Red Color: Products that may be affected

A wide range of foods will be affected if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) moves forward with plans to ban the artificial red dye.

According to the Eat Well Guide (EWG) food score database, nearly 3,000 food products on the U.S. market contain red dye 3, including candy, certain brands of mashed potatoes, yellow rice, and some medications.

The list also includes a variety of other foods, including breakfast cereals, beverages and baked goods.

The synthetic dye, also known as erythrosine, is an additive made from petroleum that gives foods and beverages a bright cherry red color, according to the FDA.

It is already banned in the European Union, and starting in January 2027, it will also be banned in foods sold or produced in California.

But the agency has reviewed a petition filed for FD&C Red No. 3 that argues, under a rule called the Delaney Clause, the FDA must ban this color additive in foods and drugs at a federal level because it has been shown to cause cancer in animals.


New York, NY, USA: Shop at a Whole Foods Market supermarket in New York on Thursday, October 5, 2023.
If Red 3 is banned, a wide range of foods could be affected according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). ZUMAPRESS.com

Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, told a Senate health committee last week that the agency has a “petition before us to revoke the authorization board, and we hope to be acting on that petition in the coming weeks.” .”

According to Consumer Reports, the supplement has been linked to cancer and thyroid tumors in laboratory animals and has been linked to hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral effects in children.

In 1990, the FDA even denied a petition to authorize the use of red dye 3 in cosmetics and topical medications, due to data showing that it is associated with animal carcinogenicity.


The headquarters of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seen in Silver Spring, Maryland, November 4, 2009.
Nearly 3,000 food products in the U.S. have a red color of 3, according to the Eat Well Guide (EWG) Food Scores database. Reuters

“We don’t know the extent of it [how bad it is]but it’s not good for you. Why use it? The only reason to use it is because it is cheaper and sells more products,” said Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and senior medical analyst for Fox News, told FOX Business.

Some companies have already removed the ingredient from their products.

For example, Red 3 was listed as an ingredient for PediaSure Grow & Gain Strawberry Shake earlier this year.

Today, the product page specifically says, “no red color.”

Abbott, which owns the PediaSure brand, told FOX Business it had “previously committed to removing Red 3 from all PediaSure products by 2024.”

Foods that may be affected:

Various fruit PEZ candy (cherry, strawberry, grape, raspberry, orange, lemon)

PEZ Cotton Candy, Candy Corn and Bananas

Original Twist Double Bubble bubble gum

Halloween Candy – LOVE Lollipop Finger Rings

Gourmet Candy Corn

MorningStar Farms Veggie Breakfast Original Veggie Bacon Bars

Vigo Saffron Yellow Rice

Entenmann’s Little Bites Holiday Cake Mini Muffins

Betty Crocker Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Fruit from Foot Starburst

Dole Cubed Fruit Bowl

#Prohibition #Artificial #Red #Color #Products #affected
Image Source : nypost.com

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top