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On Jan. 15, 2025, the FDA announced the ban of red 3, an artificial dye additive used to give thousands of food products a vibrant red color.

Concerns about artificial food dyes have been around for decades.

The FDA singled out red 3 because animal studies suggest it could increase the risk of thyroid cancer. Many studies link artificial food dyes to hyperactivity and poor attention in kids. One Nature study also linked another food dye (Red 40) to an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease in mice.

Should you worry about red dye effects or the potential harm of other food dyes, for that matter? Let’s dig into the science.

What Is Red Dye 3, and Why Did the FDA Ban It?

Red 3, also called erythrosine, is an artificial food coloring. Made from petroleum, it’s found in some candies, processed foods, and drinks.

A study from the late 1980s that found red 3 upped the risk of thyroid cancer in rats. However, it’s important to note that the rats ate far higher amounts of food dye than a human could ever consume.

The FDA’s decision to ban red dye 3 comes after a petition from several organizations asking the agency to ban its use, noting the potential link to cancer risks.

Manufacturers will have until Jan. 15, 2027, to remove red 3 from their products. Companies that produce ingested drugs will have an additional year to remove the additive.

Before the FDA updated its guidance to remove the use of the additive nationwide, 10 states had already created legislation restricting the dye.

The U.S. is the latest country to have banned or restricted red 3; others who have nixed the dye include Canada, Australia, China, Japan, and European Union countries.

What Does the Science Say About Food Dyes and Kids’ Behaviors?

When it comes to the question, “Does red dye cause behavioral issues?” there is more evidence. Many studies have tried to answer this question, not only with red 3 but also with other food dyes.

Studies of food dyes and hyperactivity have mostly focused on red 3, red 40, and tartrazine, yellow 6. Some studies also include blue and green dyes.

Some compared kids’ behaviors before and after they cut out food dyes.

These studies show that some – but not all – parents and teachers think their kids’ behaviors improve when they skip artificial food dyes. Food dyes may affect some kids but not others. It’s also possible that the impact of food dyes on children’s behavior is small, so it’s not always noticeable.

The other challenge with such studies is that kids’ behavior can change because of many things. This includes sleep, exercise, and other diet changes. The impact could also be due to the parent expecting a positive result from the change and watching for good behavior.

Cutting out food dyes also likely means kids in the study consumed less processed food and perhaps less sugar. In other words, it’s hard to tease out the role of one food ingredient.

Other studies observed kids’ behavior after they consumed artificial food dyes. While some studies found a link between food dyes and hyperactivity, irritability, and poor attention, others didn’t.

One 2022 review in the journal Environmental Health analyzed 16 studies. Kids in these studies consumed either a drink with artificial food dyes or one without. The people observing the kids didn’t know which drink the kid had.

Of these 16 studies, 10 (63%) found the kids who consumed food dyes were more hyperactive than those with a placebo drink. In most cases, the differences were slight. But the observers in six studies (37%) didn’t notice a difference between the two groups.

Should You Take Artificial Food Dyes Out of Your Kid’s Diet?

If you’re worried food dyes might make your kid hyper or irritable, you could try cutting artificial food dyes from their diet. Natural food dyes found in plants aren’t linked to behavior issues but are more likely to trigger allergies.

As for other health problems linked to food dyes, namely cancer and irritable bowel disease, the link isn’t strong.

These studies were only done in rats and mice, not humans. Rodents and humans are very different. Plus, rats and mice are often given very high amounts of the ingredient.

For example, the study looking at Red 40 in mice found that occasional consumption didn’t lead to inflammation in the bowel. Only daily, long-term exposure caused inflammation in the colon in mice.

Still, reducing artificial dye consumption means reducing sweets and highly processed foods overall. That is good for you and your kids’ health.

Diets high in sugar may lead to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems. Processed foods are often high in sugar and salt and low in fiber, protein, and other key nutrients.

How To Know What Foods Contain Artificial Food Dyes

Artificial food dyes are often found in candy, some sugary drinks, and processed baked goods, like pop tarts. Some frozen desserts and many frostings also contain these dyes.

It’s always good to read labels because some items contain artificial food dyes that you might not expect. For example, maraschino cherries often contain red food dye, as do some meal replacement drinks that claim to be healthy.

Look for the chemical names of artificial food dyes, including:

• Allura Red (Red 40)
• Brilliant Blue (Blue 1)
• Erythrosine (Red 3)
• Fast Green (Green 3)
• Indigotine (blue 2)
• Sunset Yellow (Yellow 6)
• Tartrazine (Yellow 5)

Another giveaway is the hue. Artificial colors are usually more vibrant than natural colors. So, if baked goods, candy, cereals, and other items are very bright, it’s likely they have artificial colors.

Artificial colors are often listed with letters and numbers. These include blue 1, blue 2, green 3, red 3, red 40, yellow 5, and yellow 6. You may also see the letters FD & C denoting an artificial food dye.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on July 29, 2024, and was last reviewed on April 6, 2026.