FDA may soon ban artificial red dye used in candy, food and drinks

Dec 9

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Shea Taylor (Producer), Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor)

The Food and Drug Administration will decide whether to ban a common, artificial food dye often used in candy, snacks and beverages. The FDA said it has reviewed the safety of Red Dye No. 3, made from petroleum “multiple times” since its first approval in 1969.

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However, there’s a petition asking the agency to investigate the controversial dye once more.

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On Thursday, Dec. 5, the FDA’s deputy commissioner told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee it’s hoping to act on the petition within the “next few weeks.”

More than 2,800 products contain the red dye, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. It’s used in popular products advertised for kids, including Fruit by the Foot, Nerds and Peeps.

Red Dye No. 3 doesn’t add any nutritional value to the product. Public health groups also found links to behavioral problems in children, such as hyperactivity.

The FDA banned the dye in makeup and topical drugs in 1990. Researchers found it to be carcinogenic to animals in high doses. Yet, the FDA’s deputy commissioner said the agency believes there’s no risk to humans.

Last year, California banned Red Dye No. 3, along with three other food dyes. Several countries, including the U.K. and Australia, also banned the red dye.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for health secretary, has been critical of food dyes in the past, claiming they cause cancer. It’s uncertain whether he plans to do anything about the dyes should he be confirmed.

Tags: Australia, California, Cancer, Children, Department of Health and Human Services, Donald Trump, FDA, food, Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Senate Health Committee, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Senate, United Kingdom

THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO BAN A COMMON FOOD DYE – OFTEN FOUND IN CANDY, SNACKS, BEVERAGES, AND MORE.

THE F-D-A SAYS IT’S ALREADY REVIEWED THE SAFETY OF RED 3 – WHICH IS MADE FROM PETROLEUM – “MULTIPLE TIMES” SINCE IT WAS FIRST APPROVED IN 19-69… BUT NOW THERE’S A PETITION ASKING THE AGENCY TO LOOK INTO THE CONTROVERSIAL DYE ONCE MORE.

ON THURSDAY – THE F-D-A’S DEPUTY COMMISSIONER TOLD THE SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE THEY’RE HOPING TO ACT ON THE PETITION WITHIN THE QUOTE “NEXT FEW WEEKS.”

THE CENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH GROUP, SAYS RED 3 IS USED IN MORE THAN 28-HUNDRED PRODUCTS – ESPECIALLY ONES POPULAR WITH KIDS, LIKE FRUIT BY THE FOOT, NERDS, AND PEEPS.

AND, LIKE MANY OTHER FOOD DYES, RED 3 DOES **NOT** ADD ANY NUTRITIONAL VALUE.

IT’S ALSO BEEN LINKED TO BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS – ESPECIALLY HYPERACTIVITY – IN CHILDREN BY PUBLIC HEALTH GROUPS.

RED 3 WAS BANNED FORM USE IN MAKEUP AND TOPICAL DRUGS IN 19-90 – AFTER IT WAS FOUND TO BE CARCINOGENIC TO ANIMALS IN HIGH DOSES… HOWEVER, THE F-D-A’S DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SAID THE AGENCY DOES **NOT** BELIEVE THERE’S A RISK TO HUMANS.

RED 3 IS ONE OF FOUR FOOD DYES BANNED IN CALIFORNIA LAST YEAR AND HAS BEEN BANNED IN OTHER COUNTRIES… LIKE THE UNITED KINGDOM AND AUSTRALIA.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JUNIOR – PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S PICK FOR HEALTH SECRETARY HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF FOOD DYES IN THE PAST, CLAIMING THEY CAUSE CANCER… HOWEVER, HE HAS NOT SAID IF HE PLANS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM SHOULD HE BE CONFIRMED.

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