FDA Bans Red Dye No. 3: Foods You Should Steer Clear Of
The FDA has prohibited the use of this additive due to concerns surrounding cancer. A database indicates that at least 3,183 branded food items include Red No. 3.
This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a ban on Red Dye No. 3, a food additive that features in countless products available in U.S. grocery stores.
Although the dye was banned from certain drugs and cosmetics in the early 1990s after research linked it to cancer, it has continued to appear in the ingredient lists of various snacks and processed foods.
Given that numerous food items contain this additive, here are some categories where Red 3 is likely found. Consumers are encouraged to review food labels to identify if a product contains Red 3, also referred to as erythrosine or FD&C Red No. 3.
This synthetic dye can be found in cereals, candies, fruit cocktail cherries, strawberry milkshakes, Ensure products, specific varieties of Peeps, Brach’s candy corn, Ring Pops, numerous desserts, and even certain meat and dairy items.
A review by Epoch Times of several products featuring the dye reveals that Red 3, or a variant of the product name, is frequently listed toward the end of the ingredient list, and numerous items containing Red 3 also include Red 40.
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Candy Products
Different flavors of Ring Pops feature this dye in their ingredient lists. Jelly Belly also includes it in its Original Gourmet Candy Corn, and the Cherry-flavored Laffy Taffy contains it as well.
Ferrara Candy, which owns Brach’s, released a statement following the FDA’s announcement, indicating it began phasing out the use of Red 3 in 2023.
“Over half of Brach’s products do not have” the dye, the company stated. “Brach’s Candy Corn candy for the Fall 2025 season will exclude Red No. 3, and we are committed to removing this food coloring from our remaining products by the end of 2026,” the company declared.
Beverages
Certain brands of strawberry-flavored milk, including those produced by Nesquik, incorporate Red No. 3 to achieve its pink color. Furthermore, Yoo-hoo Strawberry Drink lists it as its final ingredient.
Many beverage brands choose instead to use Red 40, such as Hawaiian Punch and Kool-Aid, Fanta and Jarritos strawberry sodas, and Faygo black cherry soda.
Fruit Products
Some manufacturers of maraschino cherries and certain fruit cocktail products containing cherries also use this dye.
Medications
An article by Drugs.com, released after the FDA’s announcement, pointed out that over a dozen medications utilize Red 3 as a colorant, which includes drugs like acetaminophen and diphenhydramine, acetaminophen and hydrocodone, fluoxetine hydrochloride, gabapentin, omeprazole, and others.
Consumer advocates have noted that some gummy vitamins and medications contain Red 3, while others opt for natural coloring or different dyes.
Products like Vicks Formula 44, Luden’s, and Halls cough drops contain Red 40. Mucinex Children’s Cough Syrup, Robitussin Adult Cough, and Chest Congestion, as well as Vick’s NyQuil Cold and Flu, also use Red 40.
Baked Goods, Desserts, and Snacks
Numerous baked products and snacks, particularly those with red icing or frosting, include Red Dye No. 3. Notable items consist of Betty Crocker Red Decorating Icing, Entenmann’s Little Bites Party Cake Mini Muffins, and Pillsbury Funfetti Strawberry Cake & Cupcake Mix with Candy Bits.
Certain reports this week indicated that specific Pop-Tart products, produced by Kellanova (previously Kellogg’s), incorporated Red 3. However, an Epoch Times investigation into the company’s cherry, strawberry, and raspberry varieties shows that Red 40 is used in these products instead, although the company had previously utilized Red 3 for these toaster pastries.
Frozen Foods and Ice Cream Products
At least two varieties and brands of ice cream, for example, Safeway’s Select peppermint ice cream and Kroger Neapolitan ice cream, contain Red 3. Additionally, Nerds Bomb Pops are one type of popsicle that also includes the ingredient.
Meat and Other Products
At least one imitation bacon bits product, found in Betty Crocker pasta salads, includes Red 3.
This report includes contributions from the Associated Press.
