FDA moves to ban Red 3, citing concern over cancer in some animals
SUMMARY
The FDA has decided to ban Red 3, a synthetic food dye, citing evidence of cancer in lab animals under the Delaney Clause, which prohibits additives found carcinogenic in humans or animals. Although FDA officials have stated that Red 3's risks to humans are unsupported by current scientific data, the law necessitated its removal. The dye, used in foods like candies, fruit cups, and snacks, must be phased out by January 2027. The decision follows a 2022 petition by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which highlighted both cancer concerns and potential links to hyperactivity in children. Red 3 is already banned in cosmetics and restricted in Europe. Industry leaders, pledging compliance, emphasized the need for consistent national regulations to avoid state-by-state inconsistencies. President-elect Donald Trump’s FDA appointee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has criticized regulatory loopholes and urged stricter controls on food additives.
