Say Goodbye to Red Dye No. 3 and Hello to FDA-Approved Natural Food Dyes

The US Food and Drug Administration officially banned Red No. 3, a popular food coloring tied to thyroid cancer, in January of this year. Although the decision marks the beginning of the end for the additive, manufacturers still have time to phase it out of their products. On May 9, the FDA announced the approval of three natural food colors derived from natural sources: red algae, butterfly pea flower and calcium phosphate. Here's everything to know about the synthetic red dye and the newly approved natural dyes. 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 ... Read full article.