The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the dye known as Red 3 from the nation’s food supply in January, setting deadlines for stripping the brightly hued additive from candies and cough syrup, baked goods and frozen treats.
The agency said it was taking the action because studies found that the dye, also known as erythrosine, caused cancer in lab rats. A federal statute requires FDA to ban any additive found to cause cancer in animals, though officials stressed that the way Red 3 leads to cancer in rats doesn’t happen in people.
But the dye is only one of several synthetic colors widely found in common foods and other products. As their use is questioned by experts and consumers, here’s what you need to know:
What are artificial colours?
Synthetic dyes are petroleum-based chemicals that don’t occur in nature. They’re widely used in foods to “enhance the visual appeal” of products, according to Sensient Food Colors, a St. Louis-based supplier of food colours and flavourings.
Nine dyes, including Red 3, have been allowed in U.S. food. The other common color additives in food are Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. Two permitted colours are used more rarely: Citrus Red 2 and Orange B. The FDA certifies synthetic colour additives and regulates their use. With the FDA’s recent order on Red 3, manufacturers have until January 2027 to remove the dye from their products. Makers of ingested drugs like cough syrups have until January 2028.
Who is concerned about these dyes and why?
Consumer advocates, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, had long lobbied to ban Red 3 from food because of the rat-cancer link. The dye was prohibited for decades in cosmetics but not in food or ingested medications. Other research has tied artificial colours to behavioural problems in some children, including hyperactivity and impulsivity, particularly for those at risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.
“Artificial colours are not the main cause of ADHD, but they may contribute significantly to some cases,” said Dr L. Eugene Arnold, an emeritus psychiatry professor at Ohio State University who studied dyes and their effect on behaviour and now advises CHADD, a support group for people with ADHD.
The FDA says it has reviewed and evaluated the effects of colour additives on children’s behaviour. It says its scientists believe that most children suffer no adverse effects when consuming them, though it acknowledges some children may be sensitive to them. About two-thirds of Americans favor restricting or reformulating processed foods to remove ingredients like added sugar or dyes, according to a recent AP-NORC poll.
Will other colours be banned?
Momentum is building for the removal of synthetic dyes in foods. Last year, California became the first state to ban six artificial food dyes from food served in public schools. More than a dozen state legislatures may take up bills this year that would ban synthetic dyes in foods, either for school lunches or in any setting. In October, protesters demanded that WK Kellogg Co. remove artificial dyes from cereals such as Apple Jacks and Froot Loops.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recently confirmed as the U.S. secretary of health and human services, campaigned on a promise to “Make America Healthy Again,” including a focus on artificial dyes and other chemicals in food. His support has been buoyed by “MAHA moms,” women on social media calling for an end to artificial ingredients and ultraprocessing in the U.S. food supply, among other concerns.
“I was called a conspiracy theorist because I said that red dye caused cancer,” Kennedy said during his confirmation hearing. “Now, FDA has acknowledged that and banned it.”
What about natural colours?
It is possible to add colour to foods with natural ingredients. Some manufacturers have already reformulated products to remove Red 3. In its place they use beet juice; carmine, a dye made from insects; or pigments from foods such as purple sweet potato, radish and red cabbage.
But it’s tricky, said Meghan Skidmore, a Sensient spokesperson. Natural dyes may be less stable than synthetic dyes and may be affected by factors including heat and acid levels. “It’s not impossible to replace, but there’s not a single solution,” she said.
How can you avoid synthetic dyes?
Because the dyes are so widely used, it can be difficult to find foods that don’t contain colour additives. The best way to avoid the dyes is to read ingredient labels, said Arnold. “If the list is so long that you don’t want to bother reading it, and it probably has things in it you can’t pronounce, don’t buy it,” he said.