SAN ANTONIO – A food dye that gives candy and popular foods a bright, cherry-red color has been banned in the United States.
Food and Drug Administration officials banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply on Wednesday due to its potential cancer risk.
At least two studies have shown that high levels of the food dye were linked to cancer in rats. However, there is no known link between the dye and cancer in humans, the FDA said.
What foods have Red Dye No. 3?
The dye is found in thousands of consumer products but is primarily used in foods such as candy, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, frozen desserts, icings, frosting and some ingested drugs.
Some foods include:
- The Original Crumbs Bakeshop Gourmet Cupcakes, Birthday Cake, Red Velvet
- Chestnut Hill Rainbow Sprinkles
- Payaso Assorted Mexican Gum Candy
- King’s Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies
- Angela Marie’s Crispy Marshmallow Goodies
Consumers can learn whether a product contains the dye on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s branded food database.
Popular foods with Red Dye, like Doritos and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, contain Red Dye No. 40. That synthetic food dye is used to achieve a bright crimson color in food and candy.
Food manufacturers will have until 2027 to reformulate their products without Red Dye No. 3.
The deadline for drugmakers will be 2028.
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