Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the main regulatory body taking action to phase out Red No. 3. This artificial food dye has been a usual suspect in iconic snacks from Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to Skittles. This new decision follows the FDA’s revocation of authorization for Red No. 3 in January. The impetus for the move was growing concern over its suspected health risks, including cancer in lab animals. For nearly 40 years, the dye has permeated the food rub. To begin with, it mostly improves the decoration of consumer products.
Red No. 3 has found its way into a multitude of food items, including beverages and candies, as manufacturers sought to capitalize on its vibrant color to attract consumers. In spite of its popularity, scientific studies have sounded the alarm over the potential dangers related to its consumption. At first, scientists didn’t believe that Red No. 3 presented a significant cancer risk to humans at their commonly consumed amounts. Cut to 2023, as all of that evidence has been made public, over which the opinion has changed wildly.
For years, food manufacturers continued to use Red No. 3 despite the known risks, reflecting a troubling aspect of the industry’s approach to artificial additives. After facing consumer backlash, General Mills quickly retreated on its 2017 pledge to remove artificial colors from Trix cereal. This non-transparent shift makes clear the burden placed on companies trying to adapt to a growing consumer demand for healthier options.
In January, the FDA formally banned Red No. 3, a significant step in addressing the concerns surrounding artificial colorants in food products. This move is supported by a new study from The Lancet. This study confirmed that artificial colors are associated with greater hyperactivity among children. Activists and public health advocates have long called for a reassessment of food additives that might contribute to health issues among children.
Environmental lawyer and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is perhaps the most high-profile figure in the world’s fight against artificial dyes. He is personally committed to getting these dangerous chemicals out of our food supply. For instance, he urges people to look at Kellogg’s Froot Loops as an immediate example of a product containing these colorants. This points to the widespread and urgent need for reform in food manufacturing practices.
“The F in FDA stands for food,” – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Kennedy’s furious advocacy for their change was inspiring and encouraging. McCormick, one of the world’s largest spice and flavor companies, has preemptively moved to assist manufacturers with product reformulation. McCormick CEO Brendan Foley echoed a movement that’s gaining momentum among companies. Several others are proactively working to get artificial colors out of their products and sodium levels down.
“Now, there’s no one ingredient that accounts for the child chronic disease epidemic. And let’s be honest, taking petroleum-based food dyes out of the food supply is not a silver bullet that will instantly make America’s children healthy, but it is one important step,” – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
As this continued conversation about artificial food dyes demonstrates, there’s a larger problem at stake regarding our public health and nutrition. As Marty Makary pointed out, “For the last 50 years, American children have increasingly been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals.” The cumulative impact of these additives on children’s health must be addressed. In turn, the public and private sectors are recalibrating how they utilize it.
Food manufacturers are beginning to rethink their response to all of this. Removal of Red No. 3 establishes an important new precedent that will help inform future policy decisions to remove artificial ingredients from food products. These actions from the FDA mark the agency’s increasing recognition of the potential adverse impacts synthetic additives can have on public health and consumer safety.
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