LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – A potentially harmful ingredient is being booted out of U.S. foods for good.
The Food and Drug Administration issued a ban against red dye No. 3 this week, a common ingredient in snack foods, among other red, blue and yellow food dyes.
“We don’t use it for any other purpose than to make food more appealing,” said Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Professor, Dr. Jamie Alan.
Alan is happy to see one of those useless ingredients thrown out, citing its proven negative impact on people and pets.
“We know that there are significant health concerns with this,” she said. “We know that it can cause hyperactivity in children, and we know that in animals, it can cause thyroid cancer.”
Alan said it’s a step in the right direction, but there are similar dyes left lingering in almost all colorful foods, like Red 40, that are also potentially harmful. She believes it’s time for companies to kick them out too.
“I’m hoping that this will open up the conversation for more of these dyes, and push the companies to put in safer dyes, or just omit them,” she said. “If your product tastes good enough, does it really have to be a bright color?”
Food producers have until January 2027 to get red dye No. 3 out of their products, but consumers can take a closer look at nutrition labels to avoid it in the meantime.
Some brand names still using the additive include Jelly Belly, Pillsbury and Little Debbie.
The dye is also a known additive in several ingestible drugs, like colorful, chewy vitamins. Drug and supplement manufacturers have until January 2028 to take red dye No. 3 off the ingredients list.
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