Here are the main points from the article about the FDA’s ban on Red 3 (erythrosine) in food and ingested drugs:
Reason for the ban:
- The FDA has banned Red 3 due to evidence that it causes cancer in laboratory male rats exposed to high levels of the dye.
- The Delaney Clause, a statute, requires the FDA to ban any additive found to cause cancer in people or animals.
Details of the ban:
- Food manufacturers have until January 2027 to remove Red 3 from their products.
- Makers of ingested drugs have until January 2028 to do the same.
- Imported foods must meet the new U.S. requirement, even if Red 3 is allowed in other countries.
Reactions to the ban:
- Consumer advocates, such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), have praised the decision, calling it “welcome” and “long overdue”.
- The International Association of Color Manufacturers defends the dye, saying it is safe in levels typically consumed by humans.
- Some food manufacturers have already reformulated products to remove Red 3, using alternative ingredients such as beet juice, carmine, and pigments from foods like purple sweet potato.
Background:
- Red 3 was previously banned from use in cosmetics and externally applied drugs due to its potential to cause cancer.
- The FDA had allowed its use in food and ingested drugs, but health advocates have been pushing for a ban for years.
- About two-thirds of Americans favor restricting or reformulating processed foods to remove ingredients like added sugar or dyes, according to a recent AP-NORC poll.
International context:
- Red 3 is banned for food use in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, except in certain kinds of cherries.
- Some states, such as California, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Indiana, have filed proposals to limit certain dyes, particularly from foods offered in public schools.