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FDA Bans Red Dye No. 3, Renewing Debate Over Artificial Food Additives

The decision follows decades of research linking the dye to cancer in rats, though its safety for humans remains contested.

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Overview

  • The FDA banned Red Dye No. 3 in January 2025, citing studies from the 1980s that linked the additive to cancer in male rats.
  • The agency clarified that the cancer mechanism observed in rats does not occur in humans, and no direct evidence links the dye to human harm.
  • Consumer advocates and health experts have pushed for stricter regulations on food dyes, with some states already moving to prohibit additional additives.
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as the new U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, has urged food companies to eliminate artificial dyes from their products voluntarily or face federal action.
  • The ban has reignited debate over the safety and necessity of artificial food dyes, with critics arguing they lack nutritional value and may contribute to behavioral issues in children.