Whatt You Need To Know About Food Dyes

The recent news that the FDA has officially banned the use of Red Dye 3 in food and drinks in the United States begs the question—are more bans on the horizon? Currently, there are 40 color additives (eight synthetic) permitted to be used in food, with four pending use in food and drugs. Parenting circles are continuously discussing artificial food coloring and its purported effects on children. In fact, it was a petition filed by advocacy groups back in 2022 that led to the recent ban of Red Dye 3 (more on that later). So just what exactly do parents—and consumers of all kinds—need to know about these substances?

Synthetic dyes have been used commercially since the mid-1800s, however, it wasn’t until 1906 that Congress passed the Food and Drugs Act, banning poisonous and harmful color additives in food. Since then, many color additives have come and gone as regulations became stricter and the science became more clear. But one thing that has increased over time is our exposure to these dyes.

“The average person in the United States drinks and eats five times as much food dye today compared to what was consumed in 1955,” L. Eugene Arnold, MD, MEd, tells Delish. Aside from the more obvious culprits like candy and cereals, dyes are also commonly used in salmon and other whole foods to boost the vibrancy. They serve no other purpose than to catch the eye, making many snacks and treats particularly attractive to young children. After all, who hasn’t been tempted by a rainbow-colored lollipop?