LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is moving forward with a ban of food dye that has been linked to cancer for decades.

Red 3, also known as FD&C Red No. 3, is used in a wide range of snacks and candy, but the FDA announced on Wednesday that companies using the product have until January 2027 to remove the dye from use in production.


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What is Red 3?

Known for its vibrant red or pink hue, it is widely used in products like candy corn, gummies, fruit cocktail cherries, and some snack cakes. However, decades of research have linked the dye to cancer in lab animals, prompting regulatory bans in cosmetics and its restriction in many countries worldwide​​.

The dye has been a source of controversy for decades, having been linked decades ago to cancer in lab animals.

What Products Use Red 3?

The dye can be found in dozens of candies and snacks across the country, though in recent years several companies phased it out of use. The company that makes "Peeps" announced that Easter 2024 would be the end of the dye's use in the pink and purple varieties of the marshmallow treats.

Red 3 was previously used in cosmetics and topical drugs, but the FDA banned its use in those products in 1990.

According to the Environmental Working Group database, there are dozens of products in America that have used the dye in recent years, including:

Fruit by the Foot
Dubble Bubble chewing gum
Entenmann’s Little Bites
Hostess Ding Dongs
Nestle strawberry milk
Jordan Almonds
Pez hard candies
Brach's candy corn
Ringpop

On top of that, stores like Albertsons, Target, and Walmart have all used the dye in some of their house-made products. Many canned fruit cocktails use cherries colored with the day, as well.

How Will It Impact Louisiana?

A ban on Red 3 could bring about significant changes to the foods Louisianans know and love, from festive candies to everyday snacks. A lot of the candies we throw out at Mardi Gras parades and in the snacks we enjoy use Red 3.

You may not notice an immediate change in the products on the shelves, as companies have some time to pull the product or begin manufacturing products without the dye in them.

The FDA is constantly monitoring food additives like dyes and has introduced regulations on many of them over the years.

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