Which foods sold in US have Red No. 3 dye? Some Valentine's candies among them
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FDA could ban additive food dye red dye 3 over health concerns
Advocates have been calling for a ban of red dye 3 over concerns linking the additive to cancer and behavioral problems in children.
A food dye that gives candy, frosting, cookies and even some ingested medications their cherry-red color is banned in the U.S., including several products branded for Valentine's Day.
The FDA announced the ban of Red No. 3 food dye on Wednesday. It could impact the thousands of consumer products that contain the color additive that was already banned from cosmetics over 30 years ago. Companies will have up to three years to reformulate their products, the FDA said.
There are over 2,000 products sold in the U.S. in recent years that contain Red No. 3, according to a list compiled by the Environmental Working Group, one of the advocacy groups that filed a petition to the FDA.
Here are just some of the products that contain Red No. 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