In a long overdue decision, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally announced that it will ban the use of Red Dye No. 3 (RD3) in food and drugs. Food companies have until 2027 to remove it, while drug companies have until 2028. The decision comes after years of advocacy from organizations that point to evidence showing how RD3 has caused cancer in animals. It has been banned in cosmetics since 1990, but remained in thousands of food and beverage products.

Recent research further underscores the dangers of this chemical dye in food. A 2021 study found that synthetic dyes like RD3 are linked to a greater risk of behavioural difficulties in children, including decreased attention span and memory problems. RD3 has been mostly banned in the EU since 1994, but it is still legal here in some food products and cosmetics. The US has been very slow to regulate the health of its powerful food industry. Robert F. Kennedy has been one of the main voices calling for healthy food for decades. He is now in charge of the FDA and other US health agencies, so more progress should be coming soon.