US Bans Red Dye 3 from Foods

The United States has officially banned the use of a red dye in food and medicine following years of international warnings about its potential cancer-causing effects in animals.

The synthetic dye, known as erythrosine or E127 in Europe and Red 3 in North America, is derived from petroleum and is used to give products a light pink to red color.

This dye has been a common ingredient in over 3,000 food products sold in the US, including candies, canned fruits, beverages, and even in plant-based pork alternatives, according to the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) database.

While erythrosine had already been prohibited for use in cosmetics, and in pharmaceuticals or medicines that come into direct contact with the skin since 1990—due to allergy risks and concerns over its carcinogenic properties, studies linking it to cancer in rodents had remained a key concern.

Despite these findings, the dye was still commonly used in many food and oral drug products.

This ban marks a significant victory for consumer advocacy groups. In 2022, a coalition of these organizations petitioned the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remove erythrosine from food and oral medicine products.

The government has now decided to act on these petitions, marking an important step in addressing public health concerns related to food additives.