A synthetic red dye used in thousands of food and drink products has been banned by US officials after being linked to cancer. Bright cherry-colored Red No 3 had its use authorization revoked on Wednesday by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which stated that two studies showed cancer in laboratory rats exposed to it.
![[Gummy sweets in a street shop]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_236098871-f7ed.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The additive is used in more than 9,200 food products including hundreds made by big companies, per the Center for Science in Public Interest (CSPI), a food safety advocacy group that called on the FDA to investigate in 2022. It is used in items like candies, cakes, cupcakes, frozen desserts, frostings, icings, beverages, cereals and dietary supplements.
![[A boy holds a wrapped Dubble Bubble Bubble Gum candy in his hand, a product that uses Red Dye # 3, in this illustration photograph on December 27, 2024. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 15, 2025 announced a ban on Red Dye No. 3, a controversial food coloring long known to cause cancer in animals, decades after scientific evidence first raised alarm. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_236060647-be97.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘The FDA cannot authorize a food additive or color additive if it has been found to cause cancer in human or animals,’ stated the FDA’s deputy director for human foods, Jim Jones. ‘Evidence shows cancer in laboratory male rats exposed to high levels of FD&C Red No. 3.’.
![[Bazooka Ring Pop Lollipops, Del Monte Fruit Cup Snacks, Starburst Fruit By The Foot snacks, Double Bubble Bubble gum, Vigo Saffron Yellow Rice, and Baby Bottle Pop candy, all products that use Red Dye # 3, can be seen in this illustration photograph on December 27, 2024. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 15, 2025 announced a ban on Red Dye No. 3, a controversial food coloring long known to cause cancer in animals, decades after scientific evidence first raised alarm. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_236060648-2f8c.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The FDA in its announcement noted that the way the dye caused cancer in the male rats ‘does not occur in humans’ and that the exposure levels to the additive in humans are ‘typically much lower than those that cause the effects shown in male rats’.
Some companies have already stopped using the additive like Just Born, which makes Peeps has not used the dye since Easter 20204. The advocacy rejoiced at the FDA’s decision. ‘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,’ stated CSPI President Dr Peter Lurie.
