Yahoo Lifestyle Red Dye 3 Is Officially Banned—These 8 Synthetic Food Dyes Could Be Next
On January 15, the FDA officially banned the use of red dye No.3 from being used in foods and medications in the future. (It's a far-away future: Companies have until 2027 to rid their products of red dye 3.) But it's far from the only food coloring on the market, raising a lot of questions about what will happen with the rest of these additives going forward.
Food dyes approved for use in the U.S. generally fall into two camps: natural (meaning they can be found in nature) and synthetic (a.k.a. man-made). Red dye 3 is a synthetic additive, but so are several other food colorings that are still FDA-approved.
So, will the FDA ban other synthetic food colorings? Here’s what a toxicologist wants you to know.
Meet the expert: Jamie Alan, PhD, is an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University.
What other food dyes are approved for food?
While some companies use natural dyes like anatto and caramel, a lot of the focus is on artificial dyes. There are eight synthetic dyes currently approved for use in food and medications, per the FDA. Those include:
Red 40
Blue 1
Blue 2
Citrus red 2
Green 3
Orange B
Yellow 5
Yellow 6
Red dye 3 has been controversial for years, due to research finding it increased risk for cancer in male rats and was linked to behavioral issues in children. (It was even banned in California schools after the state's legislature passed the California School Food Safety Act in 2024.) That’s led red dye 40 to become a popular alternative.
Are any others potentially harmful?
Potentially. Research into the potential health impact of these dyes is ongoing and usually involves lab rats. But there is some data to suggest links between certain health issues and specific dyes. Here’s a breakdown:
Red 40: May cause behavioral issues in children and can be contaminated with benzidine or other cancer-causing ingredients.
Yellow 5: May be contaminated with benzidine or other cancer-causing ingredients, and can cause hypersensitivity. It also may increase the risk of behavioral issues in kids.
Yellow 6: Can be contaminated with benzidine or other cancer-causing ingredients, and may cause hypersensitivity.
Blue 1: May cause allergic reactions.
Blue 2: High levels of this additive raised the risk of tumors in lab rats.
Green 3: An animal study found high levels of the dye raised the risk of bladder tumors.
Citrus Red is only approved to color orange peels. Meanwhile, Orange B, which is approved for hot dog and sausage casings, is not commonly used.
Could any other food dyes be banned by the FDA next?
It’s possible. Food dye bans are currently happening on a state and federal level. California has the strictest legislation around food dyes, having already banned red dye 3 from being sold in the state. It also banned red dye No. 40, yellow dyes Nos. 5 and 6, blue dyes Nos. 1 and 2, and green dye No. 3 from being offered in schools starting Dec. 31, 2027.
Before the FDA’s ban, 10 other states previously had legislation in the works to ban red dye 3. Pennsylvania is also working through legislation to ban red dye 40, yellow dyes 5 and 6, and blue dyes 1 and 2.
There's a chance that more synthetic food dyes will be banned on a federal level.
“It’s a possibility and I hope they do ban more,” says Jamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. “There are no benefits besides profit and there are significant risks.”
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