Watan–On Wednesday, U.S. authorities announced a ban on the use of a controversial red dye in food and drugs, which has been known for over 30 years to cause cancer in animals.
This petroleum-derived artificial dye, called “Erythrosine,” is also known as “E127” in Europe and “Red 3” in North America. It is used to give foods and drug capsules a light pink to red color.
Until now, this substance was found in approximately 3,000 food products sold in the United States, according to the database of the Environmental Working Group (EWG). These products include candies, canned fruits, beverages, and even plant-based bacon substitutes.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated in an official document published Wednesday that it is “revoking the approval for the use of Red 3 in foods and oral drugs.”
The dye has already been banned in the United States since 1990 for use in cosmetics and drugs applied directly to the skin due to allergy risks and concerns over its carcinogenic properties, following studies showing it causes cancer in rodents.
In other parts of the world, including several countries in the European Union, strict restrictions are in place for its use.
The ban on this substance in the United States represents a significant victory for consumer advocacy groups. In 2022, several of these groups submitted a petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prohibit the additive in food and oral drug products—a request that the authorities have decided to grant.
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