The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the use of Red 3 (erythrosine, FD&C Red No. 3) in food, citing potential cancer risks based on studies conducted on laboratory rats. This ban follows a petition filed by food safety and health advocates and is effective until January 2027 for food manufacturers and January 2028 for drug makers. Despite some legal challenges anticipated, the decision emphasizes the FDA's commitment to public health and minimizing exposure to potentially harmful substances in the food supply.
U.S. regulators took action on Wednesday to ban Red 3 , a synthetic dye used to give some candies, snack cakes, and maraschino cherries their vibrant red hue. This decision, nearly 35 years after Red 3 was prohibited from cosmetics due to potential cancer concerns, comes following a 2022 petition by a coalition of food safety and health advocates urging the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) to revoke its authorization.
The FDA cited scientific studies indicating that Red 3, also known as erythrosine, FD&C Red No. 3, caused cancer in laboratory rats. Officials emphasized that they were compelled to act under the Delaney Clause, a federal law mandating the ban of any additive found to induce cancer in humans or animals. \This ban effectively removes Red 3 from the list of approved color additives in foods, dietary supplements, and oral medications, including cough syrups. Food manufacturers have until January 2027 to eliminate Red 3 from their products, while makers of ingested drugs have until January 2028 to comply. While other countries may still permit certain uses of Red 3, imported foods will need to adhere to the new U.S. requirement. \Dr. Peter Lurie, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a leading organization in the petition effort, hailed the decision as a long-awaited step towards addressing the inconsistency of allowing Red 3 in food while banning it from cosmetics. However, the ban's future remains uncertain as it faces potential legal challenges from food manufacturers who argue that the evidence linking Red 3 to human cancer is inconclusive. During a December hearing, FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf acknowledged this risk, stating that any ban is likely to be contested in court if scientific evidence supporting the ban is lacking. \Despite the potential for legal battles, the ban marks a significant milestone in food safety regulations. CSPI and other health advocates have long campaigned for the removal of Red 3 from the food supply, citing its potential carcinogenic effects. Their efforts gained momentum in November when nearly two dozen members of Congress sent a letter to FDA officials urging them to take immediate action. The lawmakers emphasized the importance of protecting children, who consume a disproportionately high amount of Red 3 relative to their body weight compared to adults. \The FDA's decision to ban Red 3 reflects an evolving understanding of the risks associated with food additives and a growing emphasis on public health. While the dye is still permitted in certain food categories in other countries, the U.S. move signals a clear shift towards prioritizing consumer safety and minimizing exposure to potentially harmful substances
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