The Food and Drug Administration has banned the use of Red No. 3, a petroleum-based dye that gives many popular foods and beverages their recognizable bright colors. Some companies have already begun phasing out additives; FDA’s January 15 announcementsynthetic ingredients still remain Included in over 3,000 products This includes things like fruit juice, beef jerky, soda, and even over-the-counter medications.
Red No. 3, chemically known as erythrosin, was first introduced into foods in 1907. Over the next few decades, companies added Red No. 3 to thousands of products to enhance their color, many of which were used in snacks like ice cream and candy sold directly to children. Some of the first calls to remove Red No. 3 date back to the 1980s. At the time, research studies showed that the synthetic substance could be carcinogenic to rats if ingested in sufficient quantities. There is There is no definitive link Despite the problems between additives and human cancer, consumer advocacy groups continued to call for the additives to be banned.
F.D.A. I decided not to allow it In 1990, cosmetics such as lipstick were designated as Red 3, but at that time they refused to introduce similar regulations for food and drinks. In the 2021 survey, California Department of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment They conclude that artificial dyes like Red No. 3 may be linked to behavioral disorders in children, including attention and memory problems. New initiatives A federal ban on the additive began the following year, led by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). California subsequently banned the chemical. Several other state legislatures introduced similar bills in 2023. But Wednesday’s announcement finally means it will be banned at the federal level. Erytosin is already restricted in China, the European Union and the United Kingdom, and its use is restricted in Australia and New Zealand.
“Finally, the FDA is putting an end to the regulatory paradox that makes Red 3 illegal to use in lipstick but completely legal to give to children in candy form,” said Peter Lurie, CSPI Chairman. said. stated in a statement. “The main purpose of food dyes is to make candy, drinks, and other processed foods more appealing. If the function is purely aesthetic, why accept the risk of cancer?”
The FDA’s decision gave companies two deadlines to reformulate their products according to classification. Foods and drinks must be free of Red No. 3 by January 15, 2027, and medicines must be free of Red No. 3 by January 18, 2028. There are still 36 FDA-approved color additives, nine of which are synthetic. Some, for example Red No. 40is also under scrutiny for its potential health hazards.
The regulatory process for assessing the health risks of food additives often takes years, if not decades, to complete. When asked about such a timeline during a Senate hearing in December 2024, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf reiterated that the issue is not one of corruption or incompetence, but of federal support.
“We have repeatedly called for better funding for chemical safety…Please see our request for funding for the people doing this work,” he said. said at the time. “[R]Remember that if you ban something you will end up in court and without scientific evidence you will lose in court. ”
President-elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has threatened to eliminate many, if not all, of the FDA’s operations.
“If you work at the FDA and are part of this corrupt system, I have two messages for you: 1. Save your records. And 2. Pack your bags.” Said. wrote on social media In October 2024.
representative of National Confectionery Association Meanwhile, prominent industry association NCA confirmed Wednesday that its members will follow FDA guidance and safety standards.
“Consumers and everyone in the food industry want and expect a strong FDA and a consistent, science-based national regulatory framework,” they said in a statement. “We’ve been saying this for years, [the] FDA is the legitimate national regulatory decision maker and leader in food safety. ”
