Some of your foods, drinks, and medications might look a little different in the coming years, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has , or red dye no. 3, in food products and ingestible drugs. Manufacturers of food products that use this artificial dye have until January 15, 2027, to modify their ingredients, while drugs have until January 18, 2028, to comply.
What Is Red Dye No. 3?
Artificial food dyes are so prevalent these days, we may not even think twice when we open a brightly colored sports drink or eat a handful of candy that includes every color of the rainbow. Most artificial food dyes, including red dye no. 3, are made from petroleum.
鈥淪ynthetic food dyes are used to add or enhance color but have zero nutritional value and do not affect the flavor of food,鈥 says Sarah Zou, MPH, RDN, a clinical dietician at the Osher Center for Integrative 人妻中出视频 at 人妻中出视频 of Utah 人妻中出视频.
Products that contain red dye no. 3 include:
- Frosting for baked goods
- Candies
- Popsicles
- Strawberry milk
- Some strawberry ice cream products
- Maraschino cherries and other fruit cocktails
- Drinks, like sodas and sports drinks
- Cough syrups
- Various coated tablets for over-the-counter or prescription use
Why Is It Banned?
Red dye no. 3 is already banned in food products (except for maraschino cherries) in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and has been banned in cosmetics in the U.S. since 1990.
According to the FDA, high doses of red dye no. 3 have been linked to cancer in male lab rats. While there is no conclusive evidence that typical human consumption poses an increased cancer risk, the ban complies with the , a law which mandates that any additives shown to cause cancer in humans or animals cannot be used in food products.
Red dye no. 3 isn鈥檛 the first food dye to be banned as a safety precaution. Other synthetic food dyes have been linked to behavioral issues in 人妻中出视频ren, including hyperactivity and attention deficits, though it鈥檚 important to note that findings are mixed and more research is needed. The bans six potentially harmful food dyes from being served in their public schools.
鈥淭oxicity tests have found some synthetic food dyes to be contaminated with carcinogens like benzidine,鈥 Zou says. 鈥淓vidence from animal studies have indicated several synthetic food dyes can cause cancer and affect memory and learning.鈥
Should I Be Worried?
If you just took stock of your kitchen and panicked upon seeing the amount of vibrant, cherry red snacks in your pantry or fridge, take a deep breath. Remember, even though large amounts of this food dye are correlated with higher cancer rates in male rats, there is no sufficient evidence that it causes cancer in humans.
鈥淩ather than being worried, I would encourage people to take this as an opportunity to become more aware of what they are putting in their bodies,鈥 Zou says. 鈥淪taying informed and making conscious choices by reading nutrition labels and ingredient statements can help minimize potential risks associated with artificial food dyes.鈥
Even though food and drug manufacturers have a few years to comply with the ban, there are simple swaps you can make in your diet now. Some companies have already been using natural alternatives like betacyanin, which is the coloring derived from red beets, and anthocyanin, which is a pigment found in items such as radishes and purple sweet potatoes. Checking the labels of your food for natural dyes like these instead of synthetic ones can help you make healthier choices even before the red dye no. 3 ban takes effect in the coming years.
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