The Food and Drug Administration has ordered food and drug makers to remove a dye called Red Dye No. 3 from products that American consumers eat and drink.

When chef Scott O’Farrell first heard the news he had a flashback.

“I remember them banning a product like this when I was starting out in the industry and working as a dishwasher,” said O’Farrell, who started his career in 1985. “Part of my job was to do prep work and I was peeling potatoes and sprinkling them with potato whitener when my boss told me we got to use it all up because it’s going to be banned.”

Potato whitener also known as stay-white was a dry white powder that cooks would use to keep cut vegetables such as potatoes and apples from turning brown.

“When I asked him why they’re banning it he said, ‘It’s giving people heart attacks.’ So, I said, ‘Then why are we using it?’ And he said, ‘because we bought it.’”

According to the Idaho Potato Commission the FDA revoked its use in 1986 because it was known to contain sulfites.

Now it’s food coloring.

Red Dye No. 3 also known as erythrosine is a synthetic dye derived from petroleum that was first approved for use in 1907. Manufacturers of food and drinks, as well as some oral medicines and dietary supplements, use the dye to give products a bright red color.

Thirty-five years ago it was barred from cosmetics such as lipsticks because of potential cancer risk. But it’s not until recently that FDA officials granted a 2022 petition filed by consumer advocates to include food and drinks in the ban. According to an Associated Press report the petitioners argued some studies found the dye causes cancer in laboratory rats. While the cancer risk has not been documented in people, FDA officials cited a statute known as the Delaney Clause, which requires FDA to ban any additive found to cause cancer in people or rats, as the basis for their decision.

Food manufacturers have until Jan. 15, 2027, to reformulate their products to comply with the rule.

One of the alternatives for manufacturers is Red Dye No. 40. However, there have been studies linking this synthetic dye to hyperactivity in children.

Last September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the California School Food Safety Act, the first law in the U.S. to ban six harmful dyes from food served in the state’s public schools, according to a news release from the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

The new law not only bans Red Dye No. 3 and 40, but Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6, Blue Dye No. 1. Blue Dye No. 2 and Green Dye No. 3, all of which have been found to cause neurobehavioral problems in some children.

“California is once again leading the nation when it comes to protecting our kids from dangerous chemicals that can harm their bodies and interfere with their ability to learn,” Gabriel said in the EWG release.

Halle Sapperstein of West Bloomfield and a registered dietician for Henry Ford Health believes the bans are a step in the right direction.

“I think there needs to be changes and I feel like this is a good change,” said Sapperstein, who has four children of her own.

In fact once they heard about the dyes being banned they went on an expedition to see what products in their pantry might be impacted.

Chef O’Farrell concurred.

“The thing that’s so great about this is at least something is being done,” said Farrell. “It’s amazing to think all of this stuff is actually allowed to be in our food.”

O’Farrell said he’s traveled the world as a chef and what he’s observed in other countries such as France are strict rules when it comes to what can or cannot be done with their food. That includes additives and dabbling with Genetic Modified Organisms (GMO) to change the characteristics of a tomato or grape.

“Our food here is just riddled with all sorts of things,” O’Farrell said.

So, what’s a parent to do?

“They need to stay informed and look for alternatives for the products they purchase,” said Sapperstein.

She admits it will be a challenge because we often eat with our eyes and are drawn to colorful packaging and even bright foods. Children also want to eat what everyone else is eating but she believes they can be taught to understand why one is better than the other.

“The thing that’s so great about it is at least something is being done,” O’Farrell said. “I really hope that it snowballs and picks up speed coming down the hill. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens next.”

Red flags

The health risks related to the red dye prompted California to ban its use in food in 2023, while the FDA has given both food and pharmaceuticals nationwide a deadline of Jan. 15, 2025 to remove the ingredient or use an alternative. Consumer advocates like the EWG monitor manufacturers using the additive and while companies will likely switch to less notorious alternatives shoppers are advised to check food labels to see if an item contains Red 3, also known as erythrosine and FD&C Red No. 3.

Compiled by the Associated Press are some of the product categories where the dye is most likely to show up and alternatives already in place:

Candies

Brach’s Conversation Hearts and Brach’s Candy Corn both contain Red 3 but Hershey Company’s Twizzlers do not. Some other red candies, like Swedish Fish and Wild Cherry Lifesavers, use Red 40.

Baked goods and snacks

The soon-to-be-banned red dye can be found in some baked goods and snacks, mostly with red icing. Betty Crocker Red Decorating Icing contains Red 3, but Pillsbury’s Funfetti Valentine’s Day Vanilla Frosting, which is swirled with tiny red hearts, uses Red 40.

Dairy and frozen foods

Shoppers can check the ingredients for Red Dye No. 3, which may be found in strawberry-flavored milk, ice cream, frozen yogurt and popsicles. Edy’s Strawberry Ice Cream and Popsicle-brand fruit pops are both free of Red Dye No. 3 and use beet juice for coloring, which could become the trend for a lot of food manufacturers in the future.

Fruit products

Walmart and Kroger maraschino cherry brands have already switched to Red 40 but some fruit cocktails still contain Red No. 3.

Beverages

Red Dye No. 3 is used in Ensure Original Strawberry Nutrition Shake but many beverage brands use the alternative Red 40 including Hawaiian Punch and Kool-Aid, Fanta, Faygo black cherry pop and Jarritos strawberry pop.

Medications

There may be some gummy vitamins and medications that contain Red 3. However, many other manufacturers are using natural coloring or alternate dyes. Vicks Formula 44, Luden’s and Hall’s cough drops all use Red 40. Mucinex Children’s Cough Syrup, Robitussen Adult Cough and Chest Congestion and Vick’s NyQuil Cold and Flu also use Red 40.