What Is Red Dye 3: A Complete Guide

Red Dye 3 is a synthetic (human-made in a laboratory), petroleum-derived food colorant used to add a vibrant red color to a variety of products.

Here’s what you need to know about Red Dye 3.

“Red Dye No. 3 has been linked to several concerning health effects,” says Melinda Ring, MD, the director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern in Chicago.

Health Issues Linked to Red Dye 3

The health concerns around Red Dye 3 are related to two main conditions.

Cancer

That evidence led the FDA to ban Red Dye 3 in cosmetics, says Dr. Ring.

Hyperactivity

There is research to suggest Red Dye 3 may negatively affect the brain, potentially impacting brain chemistry and contributing to hyperactivity in children, says Ring.

• Archer Farms cookies and trail mixes
• Bacon bits from brands like Great Value and McCormick
• Betty Crocker casserole potatoes and pasta salad mixes
• Cake and cookie mixes, including Funfetti and red velvet varieties
• Candies such as conversation hearts, Nerds, Trolli gummy candies, jelly beans, licorice, taffy, Mike and Ikes
• Fruit cocktails and fruit snacks
• Fruit juice and flavored lemonades from brands like Publix and Dole
• Goya guava nectar
• Hot dogs and sausages
• Keebler sugar wafers
• Maraschino cherries
• Meal replacement shakes, like Atkins Strawberry shake, Slim Fast Strawberries & Cream, Ensure Original Strawberry Nutrition Shake
• Meat jerkies and sticks from brands like Jack Link’s
• Nestlé strawberry-flavored milk
• Prepared seafood dishes and spreads, especially ones containing salmon
• Sprinkles and icing
• Strawberry, cherry vanilla, and Neapolitan ice creams from brands like Kroger, Good Humor, and Mayfield Creamery
• Vegan and vegetarian meat substitutes
• Vigo yellow rice
• Some over-the-counter medications and supplements

The USDA FoodData Central Food Search allows consumers to search all the labels of national and international branded foods for different ingredients, including Red Dye No. 3.

When reviewing ingredients lists, any of the following names may be used to describe Red Dye 3:

• Red 3
• Red Dye 3
• FD&C Red No. 3

You can find Red Dye 40 in a wider variety of products, including cereals, yogurt, pudding, gelatins, ice cream, sports drinks, soda, energy drinks, protein powders, chips, and salty snack foods.

Key differences between the two additives:

• Red Dye 3 is now banned by the FDA. Although Red Dye 40 is restricted in Europe (products containing it require a warning label) and banned from school foods in California, it is approved by the FDA for foods and drinks.

  [9]

Until manufacturers completely phase out Red Dye 3 in January 2027, follow these strategies for reducing your exposure.

Choose natural alternatives. Instead of choosing foods and drinks that use synthetic dyes, look for safer alternatives made from plants or other natural sources, such as anthocyanins from berries or red cabbage, betalains from beets, carotenoids from paprika, carrots, or tomatoes, and carmine from cochineal insects, says Ring.

“These not only provide vibrant hues but also offer additional health benefits, such as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties,” Ring says.

Check ingredient lists. Carefully read ingredient labels to look for and limit exposure to synthetic dyes and other environmental toxins and support a cleaner, safer food supply, says Ring.

Especially in products with the signature cherry red color, read the label and avoid Red Dye 3 or its alternative names.

Eat whole, real foods. “Focus on eating whole, real foods that don’t need a label,” says Ring.

Processed snacks, candies, and brightly colored fruit-flavored drinks are the most likely to contain Red Dye 3.

Scan labels with an app. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Yuka offer apps that let you scan product barcodes and get immediate safety ratings for ingredients.

• The FDA has revoked its approval of Red Dye 3 based on long-standing health concerns. Companies have until 2027 to stop using it in foods and drinks, and until 2028 for drugs.
• The coloring is widely used in products such as gummy candies, cherry-flavored drinks, gelatin desserts, meat and meat substitutes, and some over-the-counter medications.
• To limit exposure, opt for natural colorants like beet juice or red cabbage extract and focus on whole, unprocessed foods.