FDA bans use of Red No. 3 artificial coloring

The Food and Drug Administration announced it is banning the use of Red No. 3, a synthetic dye used in thousands of foods, including candy and cereals. Food manufacturers will have until Jan. 15, 2027 to reformulate their products. Companies that make ingested drugs, such as dietary supplements, will get an additional year, the FDA stated. “The FDA cannot authorize a food additive or color additive if it has been found to cause cancer in human or animals. Evidence shows cancer in laboratory male rats exposed to high levels of FD&C Red No. 3,” Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy director for human foods, said in a statement. Makers of processed and packaged foods and snacks include Kraft (KHC), Campbell (CPB), General Mills (GIS), Conagra (CAG), Kellanova (K), WK Kellogg (KLG), Hershey (HSY) and Mondelez (MDLZ).