The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that it was banning red dye No. 3 from food and drugs because it causes cancer in laboratory rats. This move was part of a last-minute regulatory frenzy by the Biden administration that also included a bid to cap nicotine in cigarettes.
Red dye No. 3 gives food and drinks a bright, cherry-red color. It is also known as erythrosine, or Red No. 3, and is found in cough syrups and other medicines.
The FDA said food manufacturers will have until mid-January 2027 to remake their products without the substance, and producers of ingested drugs will have until January 2028.
The administration approved the ban as it cleared the regulatory decks before ceding control to President-elect Donald Trump and his team on Monday.
Regulators revoked the authorization of red dye No. 3 under the Delaney clause, allowing them to crack down on substances that induce cancer in humans or animals.
Industry groups highlighted parts of the FDA statement that found cancer links in rats, though not in humans, while consumer groups hailed the ban as a big step forward.
“Today’s action by the FDA marks a monumental victory for consumer health and safety,” said Ken Cook, president and co-founder of the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that promotes health. “For years, Red 3 remained in food products, despite growing evidence linking it to health problems, particularly in kids.”
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