The FDA has banned red food coloring because of the cancer risk.

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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the red pigment — Red 3, or Erythrosine — from foods, nutritional supplements and prescription drugs, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday.

Food manufacturers must remove the dye from their products by January 2027, while drug manufacturers will have until January 2028 to do so, according to the AP.

Any food imported into the US from other countries will be subject to the new regulations.

Red food coloring may soon be banned as FDA reviews plead.

“FDA is taking action to withdraw approval for use of FDA&C Red No. 3 in food and dietary supplements,” Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, said in a statement.

The US Food and Drug Administration has banned the red dye – Red 3 or Erythrosine – from foods, dietary supplements and compounded drugs. (iStock)

“Evidence shows that laboratory male rats are at increased risk of cancer from FD&C Red No. 3,” he continued. “Importantly, the way FD&C Red No. 3 causes cancer in male mice does not occur in humans.”

The synthetic dye, derived from petroleum, is used as a color additive in foods and pharmaceuticals to give them a “bright cherry-red color,” according to the FDA’s online statement.

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The petition to ban the dye cites the Delaney clause, which states that the agency cannot classify color additives as safe if found. Inducing cancer in humans or animals.

The dye was removed from cosmetics 35 years ago due to the risk of cancer.

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“This is a welcome but overdue action from the FDA: removing the unsustainable double standard of banning Red 3 from lipstick but allowing candy,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, group director at the Public Science Center. That interest led the inquiry effort, as reported by the AP.

According to FoodScores, a food database compiled by the Environmental Working Group, nearly 3,000 foods have been found to contain red number 3.

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Petition to remove red number 3 from food; Supplements and medications In public interest, the Science Center and 23 other organizations and scientists are presented.