US bans controversial red food dye

Decades after evidence first raised alarm, Red 3, known to cause cancer and is currently used in 3,000 food products in the United States.
Red 3, whose chemical name is erythrosine, is used in foods, largely due to resistance from the food industry. Manufacturers of maraschino cherries, for example, relied on Red 3 to maintain the iconic red hue of their products.
It’s also present in thousands of candies, snacks and fruit products — and thousands of medicines.
Manufacturers who use FD&C Red No 3 in food and ingested drugs will have until January 15, 2027, or January 18, 2028, respectively, to reformulate their product,” the FDA said.