Summary

The FDA is considering banning Red No. 3 and potentially Red No. 40, artificial dyes used in food and beverages, amid growing safety concerns.

Red No. 3, already banned in cosmetics for being carcinogenic in high doses, has faced scrutiny over links to hyperactivity and behavioral issues in children.

While the FDA maintains these dyes are safe under current guidelines, states like California and Illinois have passed laws to restrict them, potentially pressuring manufacturers to reformulate nationwide.

Critics argue the U.S. lags behind Europe in post-market chemical safety reviews.

  • Admiral Patrick
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    1 month ago

    Red No. 3, already banned in cosmetics for being carcinogenic in high doses,

    I wonder how high the doses need to be to be considered harmful / carcinogenic and if there’s a cumulative effect. I pretty much live on those Mio-style water flavorings, and yep, Red-40.

    • @[email protected]
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      151 month ago

      Black cherry and orange vanilla mios is my jam, but I’d love it if they quit throwing dyes in there. I don’t need my drink red or orange. Artificial or natural dyes. Just leave them all out of it.

    • @Eheran
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      51 month ago

      Carcinogens do not have a lower threshold, it is always statistics. So where do you draw the line?

    • Radioactive Butthole
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      31 month ago

      It is carcinogenic if you have more than two sodas in a week, but who would ever want to do that!