Many ofAmerica’s favorite candies and sweet beverages, including Airheads, candy corn, strawberry-flavored milk, and more, contain Red No. 3 food dye — a now FDA-banned substance.
The FDA announced on Wednesday that it is banning Red No. 3 food dye. This will affect thousands of consumer products that use the color additive, which has been prohibited in cosmetics for over 30 years. According to the FDA, companies will have up to three years to reformulate their products.
The Environmental Working Group, an advocacy group that petitioned the FDA, compiled a list showing that more than 2,000 products sold in the U.S. in recent years contain Red No. 3.
Here is why Red No. 3 is on the FDA banned list.
Why is Red No. 3 dye banned from consumable products?
The removal follows a 2022 petition from advocates who argue that the additive is associated with cancer and behavioral issues in children. As per the FDA’s announcement on Wednesday, food manufacturers using Red No. 3 have until January 15, 2027, to reformulate their products, whereas those using the dye in drugs have until January 18, 2028.
Consumers worried about Red No. 3 and other possibly harmful chemicals can check EWG’s Food Scores database. This resource offers information on nutrition, ingredients, and processing for over 80,000 products, including more than 2,000 foods that contain Red 3.
What products use Red No. 3?
The U.S. is now in line with Europe for banning the synthetic dye. According to the Center For Science In The Public Interest, the European Union banned Red No. 3 in 1994. Other countries such as Japan, China, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand have also banned the chemical.
Here’s a look at products that contain Red dye 3:
Candy
- Brach’s candy corn
- Valentine’s Day candy, including Brach’s iconic conversation hearts and the Favorite Day Cupid gummy box
- Pez
- Ring Pops
Desserts
- Certain brands and flavors of ice cream, including Safeway’s Select peppermint ice cream and Kroger Neapolitan ice cream
- Popsicles, including Nerds Bomb Pops
- Frosting found on cupcakes and other cakes, like Target’s Favorite Day Valentine’s Day cupcakes
- Cookies with red sprinkles, such as Walmart’s Freshness Guaranteed heart sugar cookies and frosted circus animal cookies
Snacks and other food products
- Nesquik strawberry-flavored low-fat milk
- Imitation bacon bits, including those found in Betty Crocker pasta salads
- Jack Link’s beef and cheddar sticks
- Vigo yellow rice
- Canned fruits in fruit juice, including mixed fruit from Publix
— USA TODAY reporter Jeanine Santucci contributed to this report.
