The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to make a decision on the potential ban of certain food dyes, including Red 3, in the coming weeks. This follows a petition requesting a review of the safety of the additive, which is derived from petroleum and is commonly found in snacks, beverages, and candy.
Jim Jones, the deputy commissioner for human foods at the FDA, confirmed during a Senate meeting that the agency is considering revoking the authorization for Red 3. The FDA has reviewed the safety of Red 3 multiple times since it was first approved in 1969, but the recent petition has prompted another review.
Red 3, which gives a vibrant cherry red hue to foods like cereals and candies, has been a cause for concern among some lawmakers and health advocates. U.S. Representative Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), a ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, expressed his concern in a letter to the FDA. He pointed out that while food companies are required to ensure their products meet FDA’s standards, thousands of products containing this chemical can remain on the market.
Thomas Galligan, a principal scientist for food additives and supplements at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, echoed Pallone’s concerns. He argued that food dyes serve only one function: to make food look more appealing and thus, more marketable.
Despite the FDA’s stance that food dyes are safe and do not pose health risks, Red 3 was banned from topical drugs and cosmetics in 1990. Furthermore, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was selected by President-elect Donald Trump to be health secretary, has previously suggested a link between food dyes and cancer.
Jerold Mande, an adjunct professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a former senior adviser for the FDA, highlighted the precautionary principle, which suggests it’s better to be safe than sorry. He noted that Red 3 is already banned in other countries and in the state of California.
Research has indicated potential harms posed by food dyes, including ill effects on gut health and behavioral issues. Some studies have also found evidence that Red 3 causes cancer in animals. Galligan pointed out that there are 27 human clinical trials showing that these dyes can harm children’s behavior.