FDA bans dye found in Nerds, PediaSure, cough syrups, cherries due to cancer risk

The Food and Drug Administration is outlawing a common addition to beverages, candies, maraschino cherries, and certain medications.

According to NBC News and the Associated Press, Red No. 3, a synthetic dye used to create edible items and give them their recognizable cherry red hue, has been connected to cancer in certain laboratory rat experiments.

For the same reason, the color has been prohibited in cosmetics and over-the-counter drugs for nearly 35 years.

According to FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones, the agency is moving to revoke the approval for the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in food and swallowed medications. Male laboratory rats exposed to elevated amounts of FD&C Red No. 3 have been shown to develop cancer. Crucially, FD&C Red No. 3 does not cause cancer in humans in the same manner that it does in male rats.

The deadline for food and beverage industries using Red No. 3 to remove it from their recipes is January 2027. However, pharmaceutical companies will have an additional year to take it out of their goods.

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, well-known sweets and nutritional beverages such as PediaSure Grow & Gain Kids Ready-to-Eat, Hostess Ding Dongs, and Nerds and SweeTartsUse the dye to make strawberry shakes, to mention a few.

After two dozen food safety and health groups petitioned the EPA to revoke authorization for the chemical in 2022, the action was taken.

“This is a long-overdue but welcome action from the FDA: eliminating the unsustainable double standard in which Red 3 was allowed in candy but prohibited in lipstick,” stated Dr. Peter Lurie, director of CSPINET.

The group spearheaded the effort to have the dye reviewed by the FDA.

Since there is no proof that the color causes cancer when ingested by people, it is unclear if food makers will oppose the prohibition in court. FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf indicated that was a concern during a hearing in December.

He informed members of Congress on December 5 that “if we do ban something, it will go to court.” Additionally, we will lose in court if we lack the scientific proof.

The organization referenced the Delaney Clause, a legislative statute that mandates the FDA to prohibit any additive found to cause cancer in humans or animals.

The Associated Press provided reporting for this article.