But in 2025, the FDA banned red dye 3 for use in food and some medications after a 2022 study showed that high levels of the ingredient caused cancer in male lab rats.

Northwestern Medicine dietitians Amy Colbert, MS, RDN, LDN, Nancy Zawicki, MS, RDN, LDN, and Mary Zupke, MS, RDN, LDN, explain what you should know about red dye 3 — and if you should avoid it before it’s banned from grocery store shelves.

What foods have red dye 3?

Before the ban, a food inventory app calculated that red dye 3 is in about:

• 26% of baking decorations and dessert toppings
• 16% of chewing gums and mints
• 13% of candy
• 11% of cookies and biscuits

According to Zawicki, you can most likely find red dye 3 in these types of food products with pink, orange or red coloring:

• Candy, including candy corn, jelly beans, conversation hearts, gum and many lollipops
• Popsicles
• Cake decorating gels
• Cake, like red velvet box cake
• Frosting
• Breakfast cereal with bright colors, especially those marketed toward kids
• Yogurt
• Cookies
• Pudding and gelatin
• Ice cream
• Some beverages, including sodas, energy drinks and protein drinks
• Chips and salty snack foods

Check the ingredients on food labels to be sure.

Why did the FDA ban red dye3?

The FDA ban is based on the Delaney Clause, which prohibits use of food or color additives in the United States if they cause cancer in animals or humans. In 2022, data showed that high levels of red dye 3 were found to cause cancer in male lab rats due to a hormonal mechanism that occurs in these animals.

“It is important to note that studies done in other animals and in humans did not show the same results,” says Colbert. “According to the FDA, there is no evidence showing that red dye 3 causes cancer in humans.”

When will the ban go into effect?

Companies that use red dye 3 in food will have until January 2027 to reformulate their products, so consumers may still see this ingredient listed on food labels until then.  

Should you avoid red dye 3?

“As a dietitian, I believe that overall dietary patterns and the amounts of foods consumed over time play a greater role in health risk than individual ingredients,” says Colbert. “Focusing on individual ingredients may also create a lot of food fear and anxiety for some individuals, contributing to a poor relationship with food.”

Instead of trying to avoid specific ingredients like red dye, focus on choosing more whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, lean proteins and whole grains. By doing this, you will inherently reduce your intake of synthetic food dyes, adds Colbert.

“Red dye 3 has been linked to behavioral problems in children,” says Zawicki. “Parents should be mindful and try to provide nutritious, well-balanced meals with fresh foods. We don’t want to contribute to fear in children or parents about their food choices, but instead we want to create awareness and limit the intake of ultra-processed foods.”

What are alternatives to red dye 3?

Red dyes can be made synthetically or come from natural sources like spices and vegetables.

Some food companies are replacing red dye 3 with plant-based ingredients such as:

• Paprika
• Turmeric
• Annatto
• Powdered beetroot
• Beet juice
• Powdered spinach
• Black carrot
• Chili pepper

Other synthetic red dyes include:

• Red No. 40, used in candies, carbonated beverages, teas and jellies
• Citrus Red No. 2, used to color citrus fruits, tortilla chips, dips and yogurts

The FDA has not banned these two synthetic dyes. Food companies typically use them in small quantities. These two dyes have been proven to be safe in animals; studies in humans have been inconclusive.

Key Takeaway: Avoid Ultra-processed Foods

Dietitians recommend avoiding ultra-processed foods. “Instead, build your diet around unprocessed or minimally processed foods, or whole foods,” says Zupke. Whole foods have not been processed with added ingredients such as added sugars, salts, dyes or preservatives.

Examples of whole food include:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa and oats
• Nuts and seeds, like walnuts and chia seeds
• Legumes like beans and lentils
• Eggs
• Unprocessed meats like fish and chicken
• Dairy products like milk and yogurt

Most dietitians advocate for the Mediterranean diet. This diet limits sugar, highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates and processed meats. It focuses on eating fruits and vegetables in a rainbow of naturally occurring colors.