Red dye No. 3 is a synthetic food coloring that is used in many packaged foods, despite being recognized by the FDA as a carcinogen. The FDA requires manufacturers to list Red Dye No. 3 as an ingredient on a food’s label, so it can be checked in the ingredients list to see which products to avoid. Here are some foods that contain red dye No. 3:
- Breakfast cereals
- Confections (candy, frosting, maraschino cherries, popsicles, etc.)
- Dairy products (strawberry-, raspberry- or other berry-flavored milk and yogurt)
- Drinks (sports drinks, flavored drink mixes, some orange soda, certain brands of iced tea and juice)
- Gelatin
- Medications and supplements
It is worth noting that California state lawmakers passed a bill to ban foods with red dye No. 3 and three other additives by 2027.
