The FDA is considering a ban on Red 3, a dye in foods.
Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, said during a Senate meeting that the FDA is reviewing calls for a ban on the coloring.
“With Red 3, we have a petition in front of us to revoke the authorization board, and we’re hopeful that in the next few weeks we’ll be acting on that petition,” he said. Red 40, another dye, has not been evaluated.
Last week, Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) urged the FDA to ban Red 3.
“There is simply no reason for this chemical to be in our food except to entice and mislead consumers by changing the color of their food so it looks more appealing,” Pallone wrote in a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf. “With the holiday season in full swing where sweet treats are abundant, it is frightening that this chemical remains hidden in these foods that we and our children are eating. While food companies must ensure that the food they market is safe, they are also only required to ensure that their products meet FDA’s standards. This means that thousands of products that contain this chemical can remain on the market.”
“While I appreciate FDA’s commitment to evaluating all scientific information and data in determining the safety of color additives, it is long past time that this chemical is banned from our food,” the letter said. “I urge you to prioritize immediate action to ban companies from adding this chemical to our foods.”
Red 3 has been linked to cancer. Despite this link in animal studies, an FDA page says the “way that Red No. 3 causes cancer in animals, specifically rats, does not occur in humans so these animal results have limited relevance to humans.”
The FDA describes the dye as being “made from petroleum that gives foods and drinks a bright cherry-red color.”
