U.S. bans red dye No. 3 in food and drugs, says may cause cancer

The move comes three decades after the same dye was banned from cosmetics

20250116 Red dye

Marshmallow Peeps, a candy that contains red dye no. 3, sit on a shelf at a store in Lafayette, California, on March 24, 2023. © AP

(Reuters) -- The U.S. on Wednesday banned the use of Red No. 3, a synthetic food dye that gives some candies, cakes and certain oral medications a cherry-like color, following evidence that the dye causes cancer in laboratory rats.

The Food and Drug Administration is banning the dye in food items, the move coming more than three decades after it was barred in cosmetics.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.