The Food and Drug Administration announced on Wednesday that it has decided to revoke Red 3’s authorization for food coloring. This is due to concerns over the possible link between Red 3 and cancer in lab animals.
The FDA has been telegraphing the decision for several months. The agency had long maintained that there was no evidence that Red 3 caused cancer in humans. However, officials stated that a new law required them to remove additives that cause cancer in animals.
The Delaney Clause states that the FDA can’t approve a food or color additive when it’s been proven to cause cancer, whether in humans or animals. Jim Jones, FDA’s deputy commissioner of human foods, said that there is evidence that high levels FD&C Red No.3 can cause cancer in male laboratory rats.
A post on , the FDA website stated that the claims that Red 3 is used in food and drugs “puts the people at risk” are not supported by available scientific information.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, along with a number other groups in the year 2022, filed a Petition calling for the removal of the additive from the market.
The group also backed a California 2023 ban on food dyes, which are already prohibited in cosmetics.
