Saying Bye to Red Dye No. 3: Learn Which Foods Still Use It and What to Expect Next

Seeing red? The US Food and Drug Administration officially banned Red dye No. 3, a popular food coloring tied to thyroid cancer. Although the decision marks the beginning of the end for the additive, manufacturers still have time to phase it out of their products -- but things are changing rapidly. Here's everything to know about foods that currently use the synthetic red dye. What is Red No. 3? Red No. 3 -- also known as FD&C Red No. 3, erythrosine or Red 3 -- is a synthetic dye that is made from petroleum and adds a "bright, cherry-red color" to the products it is added to. In 1990, the FDA banned Red No. 3 in cosmetics, but no law barred the synthetic dye from being added to numerous types of foods and drinks in the decades that followed. The FDA cited the Delaney Clause as its reasoning behind the ban, which "prohibits FDA authorization of a food additive or color additive if it has been found to induce cancer in humans or animals." Although studies did show a link to cancer i ... Read full article.