The US Food and Drug Administration announced this month that it's effectively banning Red No. 3, the controversial artificial red dye found in food and drinks that's been linked to cancer. The decision comes 30 years after scientists first discovered links between the dye and thyroid cancer in animals.

Over 35 years after the first study linking Red 3 to thyroid cancer in rats was published, the US is beginning to wean it out of foods and drugs.

T he U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 in food and ingested drugs on Wednesday, more than three decades after the agency prohibited it from being used in cosmetics because of possible cancer risks.

U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.

For consumers, the ban on Red No. 3 represents a small victory for public health and safety. It shows that the FDA is actively engaged in protecting the American food supply from harmful additives. As more studies emerge and consumer advocacy grows, we may see additional changes in how artificial dyes are used.

Patrick Mularoni, MD with Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital shares information on the Food and Drug Administration's ban on a food coloring additive called "Red Dye No. 3."

The FDA banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 based on a petition asking that the agency follow a specific guideline.

Discover what FDA's red dye ban means for your food safety. Learn which synthetic colors remain in your favorite foods and their potential health risks.

The FDA's ban on Red Dye Number 3, set to take effect in January 2027, raises health concerns among local doctors who recommend reducing artificial food dyes to improve children's health and behavior.