For decades, FD&C Red No. 3 has added its vivid cherry-red hue to candies and cupcakes—but its risks have been debated just as long.

In a bombshell announcement made last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it will ban the use of FD&C Red No. 3, a synthetic food dye, from the nation’s food supply. The latest initiative comes more than three decades after the colorant was barred from cosmetics and non-oral medications due to potentially causing cancer.

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.

Brian Ronholm: Well, this is an issue that’s been percolating for quite a long time. Back in 1990, the FDA made the decision to ban Red 3 in cosmetics, and that was because it was linked to cancer in animals.

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

What is red dye no. 3, what products have red dye no. 3, and why has the FDA banned red dye no. 3? Dr. Frita Fisher explains the cancer risk associated with the red-pink dye popularly found in foods and how consumers can actively avoid it while the food industry slowly phases it out.

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.