FDA Prohibits Red 3 Dye: Implications for Louisiana's Beloved Treats

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is moving forward with a ban of food dye that has been linked to cancer for decades.

Red 3, also known as FD&C Red No. 3, is used in a wide range of snacks and candy, but the FDA announced on Wednesday that companies using the product have until January 2027 to remove the dye from use in production.

Red 3 is a food coloring agent, specifically a synthetic dye known as Red 3 or E127. It is commonly used in various food products, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals to impart a red hue. However, its use in food has been subject to regulation due to potential health concerns, and some countries have restricted or banned its use. Red 3 is often found in items like candies, beverages, and baked goods, contributing to their visual appeal.

Known for its vibrant red or pink hue, it is widely used in products like candy corn, gummies, fruit cocktail cherries, and some snack cakes. However, decades of research have linked the dye to cancer in lab animals, prompting regulatory bans in cosmetics and its restriction in many countries worldwide​​.

The dye has sparked controversy for many years, as it was associated with cancer in laboratory animals long ago.

What Products Contain Red 3?

The dye can be found in dozens of candies and snacks across the country, though in recent years several companies phased it out of use. The company that makes "Peeps" announced that Easter 2024 would be the end of the dye's use in the pink and purple varieties of the marshmallow treats.

Red 3 was previously used in cosmetics and topical drugs, but the FDA banned its use in those products in 1990.

According to the Environmental Working Group database, there are dozens of products in America that have used the dye in recent years, including:

Fruit by the Foot is a popular fruit snack that comes in a long, chewy strip, perfect for on-the-go enjoyment.
Dubble Bubble bubble gum
Entenmann’s Mini Treats
Hostess Ding Dongs
Nestlé strawberry milk
Jordan Almonds
Pez candy tablets
Brach's candy corn
Ringpop

On top of that, stores like Albertsons, Target, and Walmart have all used the dye in some of their house-made products. Many canned fruit cocktails use cherries colored with the day, as well.

What Effects Will It Have on Louisiana?

A prohibition on Red 3 could lead to notable transformations in the favorite foods of Louisianans, affecting everything from celebratory candies to common snacks. Many of the treats tossed during Mardi Gras parades and the snacks we savor contain Red 3.

You might not see an instant difference in the items available on the shelves, since companies have a grace period to either remove the product or start producing items that don't contain the dye.

The FDA is constantly monitoring food additives like dyes and has introduced regulations on many of them over the years.