Say goodbye to artificial dyes.
The FDA may be taking steps to ban artificial red food dyes, specifically Red No. 40 and Red No. 3, commonly found in snacks, drinks, and candies. During a Senate committee meeting, Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, acknowledged that Red No. 40 has not been re-evaluated for safety in over a decade. He also mentioned the agency’s plan to act on a petition to revoke Red No. 3’s authorization in the coming weeks. Both dyes, made from petroleum, have faced criticism for potential health risks.
Representative Frank Pallone Jr. highlighted concerns about the continued presence of Red No. 3 in numerous food products, particularly during the holiday season when sweet treats are widely consumed. In a letter to the FDA, Pallone urged action, emphasizing that while food companies meet existing FDA standards, the use of potentially harmful dyes remains widespread. This push for change comes as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., tapped by President-elect Donald Trump for health secretary, has also criticized artificial food dyes, though he has not outlined specific plans for addressing their use.
The FDA oversees the safety of more than 75% of the U.S. food supply and requires all color additives to be approved before use. Currently, there are 36 FDA-approved color additives, including nine synthetic dyes. Some of these dyes, including Red No. 3, were previously banned for use in cosmetics due to carcinogenic concerns, but they remain approved for food use. Jones stated that the FDA does not consider these dyes a risk to humans, though other countries have stricter regulations. For example, the European Union mandates warning labels on products containing certain artificial dyes, including Red No. 40, which note their potential to affect children’s attention and activity levels.
Critics argue that these dyes serve no essential purpose beyond enhancing a food’s visual appeal to boost sales. Experts like Thomas Galligan, a principal scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and Jerold Mande, a former FDA adviser, advocate for stricter regulations or outright bans. They contend that the U.S. approach to food dye safety, which often downplays precautionary measures, prioritizes industry convenience over public health. Other nations, they note, are more cautious, even in the absence of definitive proof of harm.
