The Food and Drug Administration issued an order to ban the popular food additive Red No. 3 from food and drugs sold in the U.S.
The FDA's decision comes after a 2022 petition to revoke the additive's authorization based on the Delaney Clause. The Delaney Clause requires the FDA to ban additives that are found to cause or induce cancer in humans or animals as indicated by testing.
The FDA said that studies of Red No. 3 in male rats show it raises the risk of cancer. The FDA added that the way in which Red No. 3 causes cancer in male rats does not occur in humans.
Cristal Spellman, owner of The Plaza Bakery in Virginia Beach tells News 3 she has been watching the news closely and after the announcement, she started looking through her recipes and plans to make the change starting now, to be on the safe side.
"We did have a brand we’re going to start using more of which is a more expensive brand for us, but in order to keep our customers safe, we are willing to do that," Spellman stated while showing the products. "This one right here is going to contain red dye #40 which doesn’t have any restrictions."
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Food producers will have two years to reformulate their products, while drugmakers will have until 2028 to reformulate their products.
The dye is used to give foods and drinks a bright, cherry-red color. It is commonly used in candy, cakes and cupcakes, cookies, frozen desserts, and frostings and icings. The World Health Organization analyzed a number of studies on erythrosine, which is red dye No. 3, and concluded that “dietary exposures to erythrosine for all age groups do not present a health concern.”
It noted that high doses and not normal consumption pose a risk.
Advocates, however, say red dye No. 3 and similar chemicals should be banned from food. California had already approved a law banning the additive from food starting in 2027. Some food makers had already needed to make adjustments to comply with the California law.
According to the Environmental Working Group, red dye No. 3 is found in 3,023 food products. The items range from mixed fruit to ice cream, yogurt, protein drinks, and candy. By comparison, red dye No. 40 is found in over 11,600 products.
As for Plaza Bakery, Spellman says their red velvet recipe does not contain red No.3 which she is happy about. The biggest change for them will be with the icing.
