January 15th 2025.
Did you know that some of your favorite snacks and treats may contain a synthetic red dye that has been linked to cancer? It's true - products like Bazooka Ring Pop Lollipops, Del Monte Fruit Cup Snacks, Starburst Fruit By The Foot snacks, Double Bubble Bubble gum, Vigo Saffron Yellow Rice and Morning Star Farms Plant based bacon strips all use Red Dye No 3.
But now, US officials have made the decision to ban the use of this dye in food and drinks. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Wednesday that they are revoking the authorization for Red No 3, after two studies showed a link to cancer in laboratory rats.
This additive, which gives a bright cherry color to food products, has been used in over 9,200 items including candies, cakes, beverages, and dietary supplements. It has been a common ingredient in many food products for years, but the Center for Science in Public Interest, a food safety advocacy group, has been calling for an investigation since 2022.
The FDA's deputy director for human foods, Jim Jones, stated that the agency cannot allow the use of an additive that has been found to cause cancer in humans or animals. The studies showed evidence of cancer in male rats exposed to high levels of Red Dye No 3, which is why the FDA has decided to ban its use.
However, the FDA also noted that the way the dye caused cancer in rats does not occur in humans, and the levels of exposure in humans are much lower than those in the studies. Some food companies have already taken action and stopped using Red Dye No 3, like Just Born, the makers of Peeps.
The Center for Science in Public Interest is celebrating the FDA's decision, with their president Dr. Peter Lurie stating, "At long last, the FDA is ending the regulatory paradox of Red 3 being illegal for use in lipstick, but perfectly legal to feed to children in the form of candy. It removes an unnecessary hazard from the American food supply, and we welcome that action, even though it should have occurred more than three decades ago."
It's important to note that Red No 3 was first approved for food use in 1907 and is made from petroleum. This ban comes after a recent recall by Johnson & Johnson of five aerosol sunscreen products that were found to contain a cancer-causing chemical. It's a step towards making our food and products safer for everyone.
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