Red Dye 3, a synthetic color additive found in many candies and snacks, has been banned by the FDA due to concerns that it causes cancer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially banned red dye — called Red 3, or Erythrosine — from foods, dietary supplements and ingested medicines, as reported on Wednesday.

Regulators banned a dye called Red 3 from the U.S. food supply, but the timing for its removal won't be immediate.

The FDA's ban on FD &C Red No. 3, also known as Red 3, will not go into effect until January 2027 for food products and beverages and January 2028 for consumable medications, meaning products containing Red 3 will still be on the market for the next two years.

Manufacturers must stop using Red No. 3 in food and reformulate it by Jan. 15, 2027, according to the FDA announcement. The use of dye in drugs will have until Jan. 18, 2028, according to the FDA. Food imported in the U.S. must also comply with the new rules.

The synthetic additive found in thousands of food products will now be phased out by 2027, but advocates say the agency's move is long overdue

Red Dye No. 3, also known as erythrosine, is a synthetic food dye that gives foods and drinks a bright red color. It is also sometimes used in oral medicines and dietary supplements. It first was approved for use in food in 1907. It's made from petroleum.

As of January 15, 2025, red dye No. 3 is officially banned in the United States. This decision was made by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after testing linked the chemical to cancer growth in animals.

The Food and Drug Administration said it is banning the use of Red No. 3, which is founds in over 3,000 products. Here's a list of a few items

FDA’s ban on Red 3 is a shot across the bow to the food sector that could ironically help facilitate Kennedy’s pursuit of further changes.

Soon enough, American grocery stores will be free of red dye 3. On January 15, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it's revoked authorization of the additive, meaning it will be banned from foods and drugs.