Last month, the Food and Drug Administration announced it is banning Red No. 3, a food dye additive in processed foods like sodas, sweets and snacks. Recently, it and other dyes were linked to negative behavioral issues in children, and decades ago, high levels of Red No. 3 were linked to cancer in rats. This episode, NPR science podcast Short Wave explains what we know about Red No. 3’s harmful health effects and the other dyes that may replace it.

An artificially-dyed red drink in a glass with ice and a straw. Red No. 3 is a food dye additive in many processed foods, like sodas, sweets and snacks. Recently, it and other dyes were linked to behavior issues in children.

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