Did you indulge in Jelly Belly’s Candy Corn this past Halloween? Do you enjoy Tootsie’s Dubble Bubble ball gum, strawberry, and berry Ring Pops or a refreshing Nesquik strawberry low-fat milk? Well, prepare for an alteration of the “bright, cherry-red color” shared by these products because they will all be formulaically changed for the better. These foods, along with other manufactured cookies, candies, frozen desserts, icings, and ingestible drugs, all contain FD&C (Food, Drug, and Cosmetic) Red No. 3, a synthetic color additive that was recently banned (for use in food and drugs) by the Foods and Drugs Administration (FDA) on January 15, 2025.
This ban has been issued on account of the Delaney Clause of the FD&C Act, which forbids the use of food or color additives that pose a risk of cancer in animals or humans. Data from the 2022 Color Additive Petition initiated by the Center for Science in Public Interest along with multiple other groups, revealed that male laboratory rats exposed to excessive amounts of FD&C Red No. 3 are at increased risk of cancer due to their hormonal mechanisms; however, this has been known by scientists for decades. In 1992, after the previous use of FD&C Red No. 3 in various manufactured products, the FDA expressed its intention to prohibit the utilization of this color additive due to inflictions with the Delaney Clause. Unfortunately, they did not proceed with these actions at this time due to their concern about the varying resources required for the complete removal.
Now, with increased pressure and many interest groups petitioning for the removal of synthetic dyes, the FDA is finally taking action. Manufacturers that utilize FD&C Red No.3 in their products have until January 15, 2027, or January 18, 2028, to reconfigure the ingredients in their products.
The Center for Science in Public Interest not only pushed for the ban of Red Food Dye No. 3 because of its association with cancer but also because of increased evidence of its relation to hyperactivity in children. A review of synthetic food dyes conducted by California’’s Environmental Protection Agency in 2021 revealed that color additives can potentially impact “neurobehavior in some children.” Additionally, research that was conducted by Kim Penberthy and others that has been published in the Journal of Pediatric Neurology and Neuroscience supports this claim. It recognizes the link between FD&C Red No. 3 and hyperactivity in children. Considering these intensified side effects, it is about time that the FDA took action and finally prohibited an unnecessary additive that adds nothing but an aesthetic appeal to our foods.
Manufacturing companies argue that Americans prefer increased sweetness and color, but the prohibition may serve as a warning for consumers to stop this train of thinking and transition to a clean, whole-foods diet. Penberthy notes that eating a date with honey can serve as a suitable replacement for high sugar, high additive products, curbing a person’s sweet tooth and leaving them satisfied. For years, foods such as Skittles and Gatorade have been banned in the European Union (EU) under strict food coloring restrictions while still being available for consumer consumption in the US. The FDA should take this into consideration and attempt to follow in the footsteps of the EU in order to prioritize the health of American citizens. As Donald Trump assumes his position as 47th president of the United States, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (who will be leading the department overseeing the FDA) is preparing to initiate even stricter regulations of food and color additives in the United States of America. After all, health is wealth!
