Sugar and Starch Free, No Problem

I spent my typical morning drinking coffee and not thinking too hard about the day’s future events, but something truly astounding came across my AP News feed: The FDA has banned Red Dye 3 in the US.

What is Red Dye 3?

Red Dye 3 (Erythrosine) is a synthetic red food dye primarily used in food and cosmetic products. It has been part of the FD&C-approved color additive list created by the FDA for specific use cases. However, it has also been widely controversial due to a number of concerns related to potential health risks.

Red Dye 3, also known as Erythrosine, is a synthetic red food dye that is used primarily to color food and cosmetic products. It is part of the FD&C (Food, Drug, and Cosmetic) color additive list approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for specific uses. However, its usage has become controversial due to concerns about potential health risks.

The European Food Safety Authority reviewed the safety of several artificial food colorants, including Red Dye 3, in 2009. The EFSA concluded that certain dyes, including Erythrosine, should be used with caution due to ongoing health concerns. This led to more stringent controls in place and warnings about artificial colors on food labels.

The FDA Did Have a Ban on Red Dye 3 in the 1990s

In the US, the FDA actually had banned the use of Red Dye 3 in cosmetics and topical drugs after numerous studies pointed to rodents and a possible link between thyroid cancer and other endocrine system disruptions along with other possible carcinogenic effects.

Now, my question is why the FDA would ban the ingredient for cosmetics and topicals but not for actual human consumption. This question is a little more difficult to answer, but as with many things concerning safety, there were a few things that made it difficult to just pull the ingredients off the shelves entirely up until now.

Topical drugs and cosmetics were banned because they pose a higher risk of direct absorption into the bloodstream, and the most significant concerns were documented in long-term exposure. Food consumption does involve lower (more incidental) exposure, and there just wasn’t enough evidence to justify a complete ban.

There is also a strong possibility that Red Dye 3 was not banned in food due to some economic factors. The FDA, as always, will look at the scientific data it is given to make decisions, but that doesn’t mean that other factors swayed the lack of a ban.

By the time this ban was implemented in 1990, artificial dyes were widespread in the food industry. Consumer products contained colorants, and switching to alternative ingredients would have been extremely costly to manufacturers. Imagine having to not just reformulate products but also update labels and ensure that the new ingredients would be available and accessible to all the companies making this switch. It wouldn’t just be costly but also time-consuming.

The other thought here is that the FDA was cautious on purpose because not only do they have to be practical when making decisions on bans, but they also have to weigh the economic factors. If they had banned Red Dye 3 in food, it would have created this “domino effect” of concern because if one artificial colorant is bad, then what about the rest of them? This could have led to market disruptions in many consumer products.

A New Look at Scientific Data and Political Influence

In the 1990s, the FDA didn’t have enough scientific data to ban the ingredient, but we are now looking at what can happen in 30 years with an ingredient like Red Dye 3. More recent studies and ongoing reviews of toxicological data have raised red flags. The new research is even more convincing evidence that Red Dye 3 does indeed impose human health risks, particularly when considering thyroid cancer and endocrine disruption in humans.

We also can’t ignore the political influence on decisions like this. The timing of this ban is impeccable when considering who the next president will be and the changes that will be made in many government departments that oversee things like public health and safety. This ban appeals to more health-conscious and eco-conscious voters who want stronger protections when it comes to chemicals in their food.

If you have traveled anywhere in the EU, you’ll notice a definite difference in the way snacks and junk food taste. This is because Red Dye 3 is not approved for use in food. It’s been banned for a number of years.

Will the Change be Immediate?

As with most changes, this one will also be slow if it isn’t reversed at some point during the review process. The dye will be banned in California starting in January 2027, which gives us somewhat of a timeline.

California was the first state in 2023 to ban Red Dye No. 3 and three other food additives. Now, in 2024, California has moved to ban another six of the nine FDA-approved artificial food dyes in public school food and drinks by 2027.

We can hope the rest of us follow suit as new scientific evidence continues to demonstrate that food color and additives do impact human health.