Tag: Red dye 3

According to the Environmental Working Group, Flamin' Hot Cheetos do not contain Red Dye 3. The vibrant red color in Flamin' Hot Cheetos is not from the now-banned dye but rather from another synthetic coloring, Red Dye 40.

According to a 2025 FDA ban, FD&C Red No. 3, known for its bright cherry-red color, must be removed from all food products by 2027 due to potential health risks observed in animal studies. This guide details the many foods that contain red food dye number 3 and will be affected by the ban.

While the FDA has officially banned Red Dye 3 from food products, studies and ingredient lists confirm that Hawaiian Punch does not contain this specific additive but instead uses Red Dye 40. The change gives consumers clarity but also raises new questions about artificial colors in popular drinks.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 in food and ingested drugs on January 15, 2025, after decades of health concerns. This synthetic colorant, also known as erythrosine, was commonly used to create a vibrant cherry-red hue in thousands of products.

Recent FDA actions led to the eventual ban of Red No. 3 from food and ingested drugs in the U.S. after more than three decades of debate. Red No. 3 dye, also known as erythrosine, is a synthetic, chemical dye derived from petroleum. The dye was originally created in 1876 and has been used to impart a bright, cherry-red color to a variety of products.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned Red Dye Number 3 from foods and ingested drugs in January 2025 due to its link to cancer in animal studies, while Red Dye Number 40 remains approved for consumption. This regulatory difference is the primary reason why red dye number 40 is currently considered the safer of the two options. However, the safety of Red Dye 40 is still a subject of ongoing debate among health advocates and scientists.

In 2021, a report from the state of California indicated that synthetic food dyes could cause or exacerbate neurobehavioral problems in some children. Many health-conscious consumers frequently ask, "Which candy contains red dye?" to make informed decisions about their treats.

While both are synthetic food colorings derived from petroleum, Red 40 and Red 3 are not the same chemical compounds and have significantly different regulatory statuses. This distinction is critical for consumers, especially given recent changes in food safety laws regarding Red Dye 3.

In a significant move for consumer health, the U.S. FDA officially banned Red Dye 3 for use in food products, giving manufacturers until January 2027 to comply. This decision, however, does not impact Fanta Strawberry, as its vibrant red hue is sourced from a different artificial color.

According to the ingredient labels on Jolly Rancher packaging, Red Dye 3 is not used in the candy's formula. Concerns about artificial colorants have prompted consumers to question if there is red dye 3 in Jolly Ranchers, especially following its recent FDA ban from food products.