Red Dye No. 3: Understanding the Danger to Kids

It’s no secret that brightly colored foods and drinks appeal to kids, especially the popular cherry red hue. Manufacturers created this artificial color with Red Dye No. 3 for that reason, and it has been in use for almost 120 years.

This additive will be banned from food in the United States starting in 2027 because studies have linked it to behavior changes in kids who consume it. There also is a concern that it could cause cancer.

Although Red Dye No. 3, which has no nutritional value, likely poses risks to people of all ages, young children may be the most vulnerable because of their small body weight and increased exposure to the dyes. According to the Food and Drug Administration’s estimates, American children ages 2 to 5 consume twice as much Red Dye No. 3 as the general population when compared on a body-weight basis.

What Is Red Dye No. 3?

Red Dye No. 3 — also referred to as FD&C Red No. 3, Red Dye 3 and erythrosine — is a synthetic food dye. Like other color additives, its uses must be approved by the FDA. The FDA requires manufacturers to list Red Dye No. 3 in each product’s ingredients, even though it is used in small quantities.

According to the Environmental Working Group’s food database, there are over 2,900 food products that contain Red Dye No. 3, including some:

• Candy
• Cakes
• Cupcakes
• Cookies
• Frozen desserts
• Frostings and icings

It also is contained in some medications and supplements, such as cough syrup and gummy vitamins, that commonly are consumed by kids.

Effects on Children

Several studies have linked some artificial food dyes, including Red Dye No. 3, to hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral effects in children. Double-blind studies controlled kids’ diets for several weeks, first without any artificial color additives and then with them, at different doses. Not all children were affected in noticeable ways, but the ones who seemed to be more sensitive to the dyes showed more inattentiveness, hyperactivity and restlessness even with a small amount — just 1 mg a day — than when they had dye-free diets.

Red Dye No. 3 Ban

Red Dye No. 3 has been in use since 1907, when it was approved for use in food, and it was approved for use in medicines in 1969. About 20 years later, the additive was banned in cosmetics and topical drugs, such as creams, after a study showed male rats exposed to the dye developed cancer. Because rats and humans do not have the same hormonal mechanisms, there have been questions about whether Red Dye No. 3 affects humans in the same way. The FDA says studies in other animals and humans did not show the same effect, and there is no evidence that Red Dye No. 3 causes cancer in humans.

But other types of studies and the bans enforced by some states have prompted the agency to take another look at other ways the dye could be harming children and move forward with a nationwide ban.

The ban gives manufacturers time to reformulate without Red Dye No. 3 with the following deadlines:

• Food products have until January 15, 2027
• Ingested drugs must exclude the dye by January 18, 2028

Other countries that allow Red Dye No. 3 must comply with U.S. regulations for imported food and medicine.

Some candy manufacturers already have removed Red Dye No. 3 from their products, including M&M's and Skittles.

What Parents Can Do

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to limit sugary drinks, juices and candy, which are the types of foods that often contain synthetic dyes. You can follow this advice by shopping the perimeter of your grocery store, where most fresh fruits, vegetables and meats are located. Also, get in the habit of reading labels for everything your child consumes.

A good rule of thumb is that if you can’t see a food’s color on a farm, you and your child probably shouldn’t be eating it.