ALERT: FDA Bans Popular Ingredient Linked to Cancer

by Nutritionist Mary Toscano

The Food and Drug Administration has said it is banning the use of Red No. 3, a synthetic dye that has long been used in the U.S. to color certain foods, such as candies and colored beverages, as well as some oral medicines and dietary supplements.

Research shows Red No. 3 can cause cancer in animals, NBC News reported. Many food safety advocates have been concerned for decades about the substance’s presence in the U.S. food system.

“We’re thrilled that the FDA has finally taken action to remove this unneeded color additive for the market and in so doing has followed the clear dictates of the law,” Dr. Peter Lurie, president and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), tells TODAY.com.

“In the absence of lobbying by the industry, I think we would all expect this product to have been banned decades ago,” he adds.

The colorant was banned from cosmetics and non-oral medications decades ago because a study showed it caused cancer when eaten by rats. But it kept appearing on the ingredient lists of popular snack foods and other grocery products because it remained approved for use until now.

In a statement about the ban, the International Association of Color Manufacturers told NBC News that it “remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the highest safety standards. … Our members will continue to comply with FDA regulations.”

Food manufacturers have until Jan. 15, 2027 to remove Red No. 3 from their products, and drug manufacturers have until Jan. 18, 2028 to remove it from ingested medicines, according to the FDA.

Foods with the Banned Ingredient

These are some of the product categories where the dye is most likely to show up.

Candies

Popular candy brand, Brach’s Conversation Hearts and Brach’s Candy Corn both contain Red 3. But some other red candies, like Swedish Fish and Wild Cherry Lifesavers, use Red 40.

Baked Goods and Snacks

Some baked goods and snacks – mostly with red icing – contain Red 3. Betty Crocker Red Decorating Icing contains Red 3. But Pillsbury’s Funfetti Valentine’s Day Vanilla Frosting – which is swirled with tiny red hearts – uses Red 40.

Dairy and Frozen Foods

Check for Red 3 in strawberry-flavored milk, ice cream, frozen yogurt and popsicles. TruMoo Strawberry Whole Milk contains Red 3. But Edy’s Strawberry Ice Cream and Popsicle-brand fruit pops both use use beet juice for coloring.

Fruit Products

Many maraschino cherry brands – including store brands from Walmart and Kroger – have switched to Red 40. But Kroger Extra Cherry canned fruit cocktail contains Red 3.

Beverages

Ensure Original Strawberry Nutrition Shake contains Red 3. But many beverage brands use Red 40, including Hawaiian Punch and Kool-Aid, Fanta and Jarritos strawberry sodas and Faygo black cherry soda.

Medications

Consumer advocates say some gummy vitamins and medications contain Red 3. But others use natural coloring or alternate dyes. Vicks Formula 44, Luden’s and Halls cough drops all use Red 40. Mucinex Children’s Cough Syrup, Robitussen Adult Cough and Chest Congestion and Vick’s NyQuil Cold and Flu also use Red 40.

Foods Banned in Other Countries, But Not in the U.S.

Ritz Crackers

Ritz crackers are outlawed in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Brazil. These seemingly innocent, salt-dusted snack vessels contain potassium bromate, which is a possible human carcinogen that poses potential health risks. You’ll also find the flour additive in things like bread and bagels.

Mountain Dew

This carbonated, caffeinated soda has been used to help people stay up late nights because of its high level of caffeine, but that isn’t the reason its banned in other countries. The culprit here is the emulsifier that was used in the beverage for many years, brominated vegetable oil. BVO led to the Dew being dubbed a “don’t” in about 100 other countries outside the US of A, although the drink no longer contains the ingredient because of the controversy surrounding it.

Coffee-mate Creamer

Coffee-mate has been one of the “go-to” creamers for coffee and tea drinkers in the States. Abroad is a different story though. In countries like Denmark, Hungary, Austria, and Norway, you won’t be enjoying your morning cup of java with your best mate. That’s because it contains hydrogenated oil, which is a prime perpetrator of trans fat and according to the Mayo Clinic, that’s the worst type of fat you can consume.

Gatorade

Nearly every major sports celebration involves chugging Gatorade, so how is it banned in other countries? The electrolyte drink is banned in Europe because it contains a handful of outlawed ingredients including brominated vegetable oil, Yellow 5 and 6, and Red 40, all of which have been linked to health risks in some form or fashion.

Farm-Raised Salmon

You won’t find farmed salmon in countries like New Zealand and Australia. That’s because during its production synthetically manufactured astaxanthin is used to give the flesh its reddish hue. In wild-caught salmon, astaxanthin occurs naturally, so there’s no need to create a synthetic substance.

Skittles

Being that artificial food dyes like Yellow 5 and 6 and Red 40 are massively outlawed abroad, it’s no wonder you can’t taste the rainbow there. These colorful candies are packed with artificial colors and flavors, making them off-limits overseas.

Twinkies

When it comes to snack cakes, Twinkies are one of America’s most iconic, but they are not a universal treat. Overseas, these cream-filled spongecakes are banned because they contain Yellow 5, high fructose corn syrup, and hydrogenated oils — a treasonous trifecta in several countries.

Frosted Flakes

Tony the Tiger has been the spokesperson for Frosted Flakes for years to sell the sugary cereal to kids. But in Japan and the European Union, Frosted Flakes are illegal there. The Butylated Hydroxytoluene found in the breakfast cereal has been linked to health concerns including endocrine disruption and organ-system toxicity.