Mindful consumers may already be well aware of the Food and Drug Administration’s recent decision to ban Red Dye 3 from food and other orally ingested products such as dietary supplements and medications. The synthetic additive, which often provides a reddish-pink hue to candies, cocktails and cakes, has long been theorized to contain cancer causing agents in both humans and animals. Many consumers agree that powerful lobbying interests have specifically blocked legislation from being passed on this issue sooner, as certain experts have been warning about the negative aspects of Red Dye 3 for decades now. Regardless, the FDA ban isn’t on pace to go into effect immediately, so there are definitely a few products you should be sure to avoid during the coming months. Luckily, we’ve got you covered, with a comprehensive guide to the impact of this controversial chemical on your health, the timeline the FDA is working with and a full list of food, drink and drug products containing Red Dye 3.

How to Spot Red Dye 3

As stated, Red Dye 3 can be found in a myriad of common candies, pastries and other foods. For all intents and purposes, any grocery item that contains a bright red hue should raise alarm bells for the few years, as we wait for the ban to come into effect. The FDA ban is not expected to officially halt the sale of these products until early 2027 for food items, and early 2028 for oral drugs. Dyes are generally listed by name on the nutrition labels of food items, meaning it should be a breeze to double check some of the more crimson candies in your shopping cart before hitting the checkout. Per extensive FDA research, Red Dye 3, and many others like it, are especially dangerous for young children with developing minds and bodies; it can lead to developmental disorders, behavioral issues, altered memory capacity and more. Of course, there’s also the carcinogenic element to the dyes, which has been proven to spread cancer through generational lines in lab mice.

As Dr. Thomas Galligan, principal scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest explained in a statement to CNN, dyes like Red 3 “are listed by name, but not necessarily by amount, it’s pretty much impossible for a consumer to know exactly how much they’re being exposed to. What CSPI recommends is that consumers entirely avoid products that contain any of these… The only thing consumers can do right now is look at the ingredient lists of the foods that they think about buying in their grocery store.” Still, the most commonly impacted grocery items include highly processed foods with low nutritional value, so maintaining a diet of fresh produce is one surefire way to reduce wasting time reading nutrition facts while shopping.

What Products Contain Red Dye 3?

CSPI researchers have identified more than 9,000 common food products which contain Red Dye 3. In 2027 and beyond, these products will be made to pivot to a more natural and safe alternative, or lose their colorful allure, but for now, they’re best to be avoided whenever possible. While not every branded item in the following category contains the dye, these products overwhelmingly utilize the synthetic color, so feel free to put this list up against your shopping list and double check.

• Seasonal candies including candy corn, peeps, Brach’s candy hearts and candy canes
• Carbonated beverages, branded sodas and some flavored lemonades
• Ice creams, frozen desserts and ice pops
• Pre-packaged cakes and cupcakes
• Strawberry frosting and other pinkish whipped topping
• Fruit cocktails, canned fruit and especially maraschino cherries
• Protein shakes including certain flavors of Ensure
• Strawberry milk and other powdered drink mixes
• Certain puddings, gelatins and yogurts
• Sausages, hot dogs and bacon – especially pre-packaged bacon bits
• Impossible meat and other lab-grown meat substitutes
• Certain antidepressant medication including Fluoxetine
• Gabapentin
• Heartburn medications such as Andomeprazole
• Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen
• Many others

Obviously, this is an exhaustive list, which only serves to make your grocery shopping experience more stressful for the next few years. Luckily, the tides seem to be changing, as Red Dye 3 and other associated additives are being removed from our food. As with most health concerns, the best time to become mindful of these issues was years ago, but the second best time is today.

What Other Dyes Are Dangerous?

Though Red Dye 3 is the only additive currently on the FDA’s chopping block, it’s far from the only harmful chemical to be put in our food. Red dye 40 has long been considered a possible health hazard as well, even though many dietitians tout it as a preferable alternative to 3. Currently, the former is one of the top ingredients currently on the list for further assessment, meaning we may have some more clarity on this chemical in the near future. Likewise, Yellow Dyes 5 and 6 have been linked to cancer causing chemicals including benzidine, and are also suspected to increase the risk of behavioral issues in small children. Studies within the last decade suggest that Yellow 6 could be toxic to human cells, making it a detrimental ingredient to put into your body. 

Blue Dyes 1 and 2 and Green Dye 3 are all less common than the previously mentioned additives, though they are all derived from petroleum, and may increase the risk of things like tumors and developmental illness. Like all nutritional guides, all we can do for now is shop mindfully with the information we currently have at our disposal. Luckily, these dyes are finally being fully researched and investigated, so additional bans may be passed down from the FDA in the next several years.