Staff ReportsThe United States Food and Drug Administration has stepped up to the plate this week by finally banning Red No. 3, a synthetic dye known for giving foods that unnatural cherry-red hue. It seems the FDA has discovered that while it’s been illegal to smear this dye on lipstick for over 30 years, slathering it on candies, cereals, and milkshakes was perfectly fine. Yes, America, the same government that claims to have your back has been letting your kids munch on potential cancer-causing additives while reining in your makeup choices.
The ban comes after prolonged pressure from consumer advocacy groups and some lawmakers, all convinced that it’s high time the FDA gets its priorities straight. After all, if Red No. 3 can’t pass muster as a lipstick color, why on Earth should it be acceptable as a topping for our children’s candy? Dr. Peter Lurie of the Center for Science in the Public Interest certainly agrees, expressing relief that the FDA has finally decided to address this glaring regulatory contradiction.
Food manufacturers are not off the hook just yet. They’ve been given until January 15, 2027, to scrub their products clean of this dye. And if food makers thought they had it tough, drug manufacturers – you guessed it – get an extra year to figure out how to color their pills without using this infamous additive. Talk about a confidence boost for parents everywhere, knowing that big food and big pharma have to clean up their acts while everyone’s just trying to enjoy a childhood filled with questionable snacks.
The FDA Just Banned This Popular Food Dye
https://t.co/5G7gYtVMzK— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 16, 2025
The FDA’s deputy director for human foods proclaimed that they cannot authorize any food additive that has been shown to cause cancer in humans or animals, leaving many to wonder why it took so long to reach this conclusion. Apparently, a bunch of male rats with tumors finally tipped the scale and drew the attention of the powers that be. Who knew making a food ingredient illegal would take a small army of lab rats?
This isn’t some isolated incident. While Americans have been chomping down on Red No. 3 in their foods since it was approved in 1907, countries like Japan, Australia, and several European nations have already banned the dubious dye. Perhaps it’s time to take a page out of their books. The ban might seem overdue, but at least now American consumers can bask in the knowledge that, at long last, the seductive cherry red in their food won’t carry a side of cancer risk.
