On Jan. 15 the FDA banned Red No. 3 nationwide. Known for its cherry-red hue this food coloring is commonly found in candy, cakes, frostings and ingested drugs.
Doane residents have no reason to panic, assures Nurse Jody Yank.
“No studies have specifically linked Red Dye No. 3 to cancer in humans,” Yank said, “but it is very difficult to study in humans. The study would have to be structured in a way that would be cost prohibitive and would last over a long period of time.”
While this ban will stop the additive from being put in food and ingested drugs, the coloring has been banned from cosmetics since 1990. This happened after studies found that lab rats exposed to Red No. 3 developed thyroid tumors.
Since then, more research has been done to see the effect of this coloring as a food additive. It was found Red No. 3 disrupts thyroid hormone regulation by blocking an essential enzyme for thyroid hormones. As such, Red No. 3 increases the risk of thyroid-related disorders.
Additionally, several studies on rats and pigs have observed enlarged thyroid tumors after exposure to Red No. 3. “Research on these animals can be directly translated to how the variable can affect humans, positively or negatively,” Yank said. “For example, before a substance can be approved by the FDA, it must undergo several rounds of study in animals to ensure its safety, to show the intended benefit to humans, and to not show any untoward side effects.”
Lastly, the additive can increase oxidative stress, impairing neuron communications. Studies with rodents found that the coloring triggered neuroinflammation leading to neuronal damage and dysfunction. This can worsen conditions like Alzheimer’s.
In 2023 California banned the use of Red No. 3 in food statewide. This action brought attention back to the additive and led to 24 organizations advocating for federal action. The findings of past studies fall under the 1985 Delany Clause, which advocates cited as a reason for the ban. The 1985 Delany Clause prohibits FDA authorization of a food or coloring additive if it has been found to induce cancer in humans or animals.
Manufacturers will have until Jan. 15, 2027, or Jan. 18, 2028, to reformulate their products. Recently, many industries have begun a shift away from artificial dyes. In 2016, Mars announced a four-year plan to remove all artificial colors from its human food products.
“Artificial dyes are made from synthetic materials whereas natural dyes are made from animal, plant, or mineral sources,” Yank said. “Synthetic dyes have been studied as previously discussed but do undergo ongoing evaluation for safety reasons.” She explained that products with natural dyes are generally healthier to consume.
Alternatives to the food coloring include beet juice, carmine and turmeric.
