FDA Bans Red Dye No. 3 But Leaves Six Other Popular Synthetic Dyes In US Food & Drink Products
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The outgoing Biden administration’s FDA announced earlier this week it will be banning Red Dye No. 3 from being used in thousands of food, drink and pharmaceutical products throughout the United States.
Red No. 3 is a coloring derived from petroleum that has been banned in cosmetics since 1990, but approved for human consumption up until a few days ago.
While the decision was widely celebrated as a health victory, it sadly falls short of addressing the larger issue of synthetic dyes in American products.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Red 40 is actually consumed the most per pound among three major food dyes included in over 36,000 U.S. food products.
Red Dye 40 is found in significantly more food products than Red Dye 3.
The number 40 red dye has been linked to hyperactivity in children, allergic reactions, negative behavioral effects, potential carcinogenic effects, and a negative impact on the immune system.
With the incoming Donald Trump administration focusing on improving America’s health and ridding the food supply of unhealthy products under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., it’s possible the other major synthetic dyes consumed by the masses could be removed from products.
For example, Yahoo Life reports “The California School Food Safety Act, which is a follow-up to the California Food Safety Act and focuses on foods served in schools, will ban red dye No. 40, yellow dyes Nos. 5 and 6, blue dyes Nos. 1 and 2 and green dye No. 3 from being sold in California schools effective Dec. 31, 2027.”
It’s very possible the Kennedy-led HHS could copy this legislation at the federal level.
Yellow dyes Nos. 5 and 6 are also linked to similar health issues as red dye No. 40 with some studies linking No. 5 to cell damage and No. 6 to organ damage and hormonal effects.
The two blue dyes are less commonly linked to negative health concerns compared to other food dyes, but are connected to potential issues such as hyperactivity and allergic reactions.
from: https://needtoknow.news/2025/01/fda-bans-red-dye-no-3-but-leaves-six-other-popular-synthetic-dyes-in-us-food-drink-products/