Washington, D.C. – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Wednesday it is banning Red Dye No. 3, a synthetic additive linked to cancer in animals. The dye, known for its bright cherry-red color, is commonly found in candies, cereals, and fruit cocktail cherries.
According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which petitioned for the ban, the FDA’s decision ends decades of debate. The dye was first linked to tumors in male rats during studies conducted in the 1980s. The additive has been banned in cosmetics since 1990.
Food manufacturers must reformulate affected products by January 15, 2027. Companies making dietary supplements will have until 2028.
California and other states had already taken steps to prohibit the dye. Red No. 3 is also banned or restricted in the European Union, Australia, and Japan.
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