Thu, 16 Jan 2025

US bans red dye 3 from some frosting, sweets and medicine

The FDA says food manufacturers have until January 2027 to remove the cherry-red dye from their products.
The US FDA has announced that it will ban the use of Red No 3, a synthetic dye commonly used in foods and beverages to give them a bright red color, due to studies linking it to cancer in male laboratory rats. The ban is required by law if any link to cancer is found, even if exposure levels are much lower for humans than for lab rats. The dye will be phased out of products such as candy, cakes, cookies, frozen desserts, and medicines within the next two years. Red No 3 has already been banned in cosmetics for 35 years and was restricted by California last year. Other countries including Australia, New Zealand, and European Union also restrict its use.
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