Red Dye 3 Just Got Banned. These Are the Foods to Avoid If You're Worried.

red candy
Are These Red Dye 3 Foods on Your Grocery List? Photography By Teri A. Virbickis - Getty Images


American food and drug manufacturers are officially on deadline to reformulate any products containing Red Dye No. 3.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revoked the use of Red Dye No. 3 (also known as erythrosine, Red Dye 3, FD&C Red No. 3 and Red No. 3) in food and ingested drugs as of January 15, effectively banning the synthetic color additive in the U.S. This dye is commonly found in artificially colored red and pink products such as candy, fruit juices, sodas, cereals, and dietary supplements.

The move follows California's 2023 ban, which prohibits the sale of foods containing Red Dye No. 3 in the state starting in 2027, and aligns the U.S. with much of the world, including the European Union, Australia and New Zealand, where the dye is already restricted. Food safety advocacy groups, which petitioned the FDA to ban the dye in 2022, see this as a major victory.

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But what does this mean for you? Here's a look at why the dye was banned, the foods it’s found in and expert advice for families concerned about its health impacts.

Meet the Experts: Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N., is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab. Jaclyn Bowen, M.P.H., M.S., is the executive director of Clean Label Project, a food and consumer safety nonprofit. Vanessa Rissetto, R.D., is the co-founder of the virtual nutrition care service Culina Health.

What is Red Dye No. 3?

Red Dye No. 3 is an artificial food coloring derived from petroleum, commonly added to foods, drinks, supplements and drugs to create an appealing cherry-red or pink hue.

Like all color additives used in U.S. foods, Red Dye No. 3 underwent safety evaluations before receiving FDA approval in the 1960s. However, in 1990, the dye was prohibited in cosmetic products and topical drugs under the Delaney Clause, due to evidence linking it to cancer in animals, particularly rats. (The Delaney Clause, enacted in 1958, prohibits any food additive from qualifying as safe if it has been shown to cause cancer in animals or humans at any dose.)

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At the time of the 1990 decision, the FDA stated it "decided not to take action at that time, given the resources required to remove this authorization," as Red Dye No. 3 had already been approved for use in foods at realistic human exposure levels. (It has since undergone multiple safety reviews before its ban in the U.S. this month.)

Critics have long argued that while studying the effects of Red Dye No. 3 in humans poses ethical and scientific challenges, its ban in cosmetics should have logically extended to the food supply.

"The banning of Red Dye No. 3 marks a significant milestone for Americans, as it has been a long time coming," says Jaclyn Bowen, M.P.H., M.S., executive director of Clean Label Project, a food and consumer safety nonprofit. "Despite being banned in cosmetics and topical drugs for decades due to health concerns, its continued use in food products highlighted a glaring inconsistency in regulations."

Why is Red Dye No. 3 bad?

The petition filed by over 20 consumer advocacy groups in 2022 that argued for the removal of Red Dye No. 3 from food and dietary supplements cited studies, the FDA's prior use of the Delaney Clause and evidence that high doses of the color additive had been linked to cancer in rats. Concerns about exposure to Red Dye No. 3 in children and its potential association with adolescent hyperactivity have also been raised over the years — however, in a 2011 review, the FDA found no causal relationship between hyperactivity and exposure to color additives.

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In its decision to ban Red Dye No. 3 this January, the FDA cited the Delaney Clause as the primary reason, but re-emphasized that current science does not directly indicate that the levels of Red Dye No. 3 typically consumed by humans are carcinogenic:

The FDA determined that the data presented in a 2022 color additive petition show that this ingredient causes cancer in male laboratory rats exposed to high levels of FD&C Red No. 3 because of a hormonal mechanism that occurs in male rats. Studies in other animals or in humans did not show the same effect and there is no evidence showing FD&C Red No. 3 causes cancer in humans.

That said, Vanessa Rissetto, R.D., co-founder of the virtual nutrition care service Culina Health, believes the FDA's move is a positive step forward. "Early-stage cancers are on the rise across the nation and we need to take a look at the food we are eating," she notes. "It’s encouraging to see the federal government recognize the potential effects of carcinogenic ingredients and take action to remove them from America’s food supply. Banning red dye is a great first step in reassessing how food impacts Americans' overall health. This can kickstart a transition from over-consuming ultra-processed foods to eating more whole and natural foods."

Which foods contain Red Dye No. 3?

a batch of homemade red velvet cupcakes
mtreasure - Getty Images

Due to longstanding pushback and controversial health studies surrounding the ingredient, many processed food manufacturers have already shifted away from using Red Dye No. 3, opting instead for the more commonly used artificial dye, Red Dye No. 40. However, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's FoodData Central database, as of a few years ago, more than 8,000 branded food products still contained Red Dye No. 3.

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Common food products that can contain Red Dye No. 3 include:

  • Sprinkles

  • Icing

  • Baking mixes

  • Cereals

  • Berry- and cherry-flavored candy

  • Strawberry milk

  • Peppermint candies

  • Soda

  • Fruit cocktail

  • Cookies

  • Maraschino cherries

  • Smoked sausages, bacon and other types of processed meats

  • Ice cream and frozen yogurt treats

  • Chewing gum and mints

  • Biscuits

  • Fruit and vegetable juices

  • Seasoning mixes and marinades

Not everything in the marketplace containing Red Dye No. 3 falls into the food categories listed above. The dye is also commonly used in drugs and dietary supplements to color pills. If you're unsure, it's best to check the product's ingredient label before purchasing. Keep in mind that Red Dye No. 3 may also be listed as "Red No. 3," "Red 3" or "Red #3."

What do food brands have to change before 2027?

In its January 2025 announcement, the FDA gave food companies until January 15, 2027, and ingested drug manufacturers until January 18, 2028, to reformulate their products to comply with the updated law. This means companies currently using Red Dye No. 3 in their products will need to find an alternative dye to continue legally selling and distributing their goods in the U.S.

Many manufacturers are expected to turn to other FDA-approved artificial dyes, like Red 40, to keep production costs low. However, some may opt for more natural alternatives, despite potential challenges related to cost, stability and flavor.

"I’m hopeful that we’ll see more brands naturally coloring their products using ingredients like beets, spirulina and turmeric," says Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N., a registered dietitian and the Good Housekeeping Institute's Nutrition Lab director.

Bowen also predicts that other natural options may become more popular, including minerals such as calcium carbonate (white) and iron oxides (red, brown and black), fruit and vegetable extracts like blueberry (blue), grape (purple) and cherry (red), and other natural sources like chlorophyll (green), caramel coloring (brown) and saffron (yellow).

"The ban reflects growing consumer demand for safer, cleaner ingredients, encouraging innovation and reducing potential health risks," says Bowen. "Over the past few decades, I've seen a rise in natural, non-synthetic alternatives that deliver vibrant colors without the associated risks."

The bottom line

The FDA’s recent ban on Red Dye No. 3, set to take effect by 2027 for foods and 2028 for drugs, marks a significant step in addressing safety concerns over artificial food dyes in the U.S. food system. While some manufacturers may turn to synthetic alternatives like Red Dye No. 40, others could explore natural options such as fruit and vegetable extracts.

Red food coloring isn’t essential for a balanced diet, and experts view its ban as a positive step toward reducing ultra-processed foods and encouraging cleaner ingredient choices. Experts recommend that if you're concerned about red food colorings or synthetic dyes, one of the most impactful changes is to prioritize whole, real foods over ultra-processed ones and carefully read food labels to avoid artificial additives.

"Simple swaps to limit Red Dye No. 3 and other artificial dyes include choosing chocolate milk over strawberry milk, chocolate instead of jelly beans and herbal tea or fresh fruit juice instead of artificially colored beverages," says Sassos.

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