Red dye bans have made headlines repeatedly in recent years, and it is easy to feel confused about what is actually prohibited. The clearest answer is that Red Dye No. 3 (also called erythrosine or E127) is banned in the European Union and several other countries for use in foods, though it remains legal in the United States. Red Dye No. 40 (allura red) is not banned in the US, but it requires a warning label in the European Union. This guide explains exactly which red dyes are banned, where they are banned, and what the evidence actually shows about their health effects.
Which Red Dye Is Banned in the United States?
Red Dye No. 3 is the only red dye that has faced a formal ban in the United States, but the ban applies to cosmetics and external drugs, not food. The FDA banned Red No. 3 from cosmetics and topical drugs in 1990 after studies linked high doses to thyroid tumors in rats. That same dye remained legal in food because the FDA concluded the evidence did not prove a risk to humans at typical dietary exposure levels.
In October 2024, California passed the California Food Safety Act, which bans Red Dye No. 3 from all food sold in the state starting in 2027. Several other states have proposed similar legislation. This means the dye is being phased out of food in the US, but it is not yet banned nationwide at the federal level.
Red Dye No. 40 is not banned in the US. It is the most widely used red dye in American food products. The FDA lists it as approved for use, though it is subject to batch certification to ensure purity.
Which Red Dyes Are Banned in Europe?
Red Dye No. 3 (erythrosine) is banned in food throughout the European Union. This ban has been in place since 1990, when the EU determined the evidence of thyroid effects in animal studies warranted removing it from the food supply. The EU also restricts several other red dyes that remain legal in the US.
Red Dye No. 40 (allura red) is legal in the EU but must carry a warning label. The label states that the dye “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.” This requirement stems from the 2007 Southampton study, which found a possible link between certain artificial colors and hyperactivity in children. The EU response was to require warning labels rather than a ban.
Red Dye No. 2 (amaranth) is banned in the US but is still used in some European and other international markets. It is restricted in the EU and requires a warning label there. This is a reversal of the usual pattern — the US banned it in 1976 over concerns about cancer risk, while the EU allows it with restrictions.
Why Was Red Dye No. 3 Banned?
The scientific basis for the Red Dye No. 3 ban traces back to animal studies conducted in the 1980s. High doses of the dye caused thyroid tumors in male rats. The mechanism is well understood: the dye disrupts thyroid hormone production, which causes the thyroid gland to release more stimulating hormone, leading to cell growth and eventually tumors.
This mechanism is specific to rats in an important way. Rats are particularly sensitive to thyroid disruption because their thyroid hormone transport proteins differ from humans. The FDA has stated that the rat findings do not predict a similar cancer risk in humans at typical dietary exposure levels. This is why the FDA banned the dye in cosmetics but allowed it in food — the agency judged the risk differently based on how the dye is absorbed through skin versus the digestive tract.
The American Cancer Society notes that the evidence for cancer risk in humans from Red Dye No. 3 is not established. No human studies have demonstrated a link between the dye and cancer. The California ban was motivated more by concerns about behavioral effects in children and a precautionary approach than by a new cancer finding.
What Does the Evidence Say About Red Dye 40 and Behavior?
Red Dye 40 is the most studied artificial color when it comes to children’s behavior. The 2007 Southampton study, published in The Lancet, is the most influential research on this topic. The study found a small but measurable increase in hyperactive behavior in children who consumed a mixture of artificial colors, including Red Dye 40, compared to children who drank a placebo.
The study had limitations. It tested a mix of dyes, not Red Dye 40 alone. The effect size was small, and the study did not diagnose any children with ADHD. The European Food Safety Authority reviewed the study and concluded that the findings were too weak to establish a causal link, but the EU chose to require warning labels as a precaution.
Some research suggests that children with existing ADHD may be more sensitive to artificial colors than children without the condition. A 2012 meta-analysis of double-blind trials found a small effect of artificial food colors on hyperactive behavior, primarily in children already diagnosed with ADHD. The effect was not large enough to suggest that dyes cause ADHD, but it may worsen symptoms in some children.
No clinical evidence currently confirms that Red Dye 40 causes ADHD or any other behavioral disorder in typically developing children. The evidence supports a cautious approach for sensitive children, not a blanket conclusion about harm.
What Foods Contain Red Dye 40 and Red Dye 3?
Red Dye 40 appears in an enormous range of processed foods. Common sources include:
- Cereal, especially fruit-flavored varieties
- Yogurt and flavored milk
- Gummy candies, hard candies, and chocolate candies with colored coatings
- Soft drinks, sports drinks, and powdered drink mixes
- Baked goods with colored frosting or filling
- Jello and pudding mixes
- Barbecue sauce, ketchup, and salad dressings
- Processed snack foods like fruit snacks and crackers
Red Dye 3 is less common but still appears in some products. It is often found in maraschino cherries, certain cake decorating gels, and some candies. The dye gives a pink-red color that is slightly different from the brighter tone of Red Dye 40.
Reading ingredient labels is the most reliable way to identify these dyes. Red Dye 40 is listed as “Red 40,” “FD&C Red No. 40,” or “Allura Red.” Red Dye 3 appears as “Red 3,” “FD&C Red No. 3,” or “Erythrosine.”
Are Natural Red Dyes a Safer Alternative?
Natural red colorants come from plant sources and are increasingly used as replacements for synthetic dyes. Beet juice extract, paprika extract, and carmine (derived from insects) are the most common natural red colorings. Anthocyanins from berries and purple sweet potato are also used.
These natural alternatives are not automatically safer. Carmine can cause allergic reactions in some people, including rare cases of anaphylaxis. Paprika extract and beet juice are generally recognized as safe, but they are less stable than synthetic dyes. They fade more quickly when exposed to light or heat, and they can change the flavor of products.
The evidence does not support a strong claim that natural red dyes are safer than synthetic ones. The health concerns about synthetic dyes are modest and mostly relate to behavioral effects in sensitive children. Natural dyes have their own allergenicity concerns. The choice between them is more about personal preference and regulatory status than demonstrated differences in safety.
How to Reduce Your Exposure to Red Dyes
If you want to limit red dye exposure, the most effective strategy is to reduce consumption of highly processed foods. Artificial colors are almost exclusively found in processed products, not in whole foods. Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains do not contain synthetic dyes.
When buying packaged foods, check the ingredient list rather than relying on the front of the package. Terms like “natural colors” do not guarantee the absence of synthetic dyes. Look specifically for “Red 40,” “Red 3,” or their international names like “Allura Red” and “Erythrosine.”
Some brands have voluntarily removed artificial colors from their products in response to consumer demand. This is not a legal requirement in most places, so always verify by reading labels. The market has shifted substantially in recent years, and many mainstream products now use natural colorings, but the change is not universal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Red Dye 40 banned anywhere?
Red Dye 40 is not banned in the US, but it requires a warning label in the European Union. The warning states it may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.
What is the difference between Red 3 and Red 40?
Red 3 (erythrosine) is banned in food in the EU and being phased out in California, while Red 40 is legal in both places. Red 40 is more widely used and has been studied more extensively for behavioral effects in children.
Does Red 40 cause cancer?
No human studies have shown that Red 40 causes cancer. The FDA has approved it as safe, and the evidence for cancer risk is limited to animal studies that have not been confirmed in humans.
Why is Red 3 banned in Europe but not in the US?
The EU banned Red 3 in 1990 based on the same thyroid tumor findings in rats that the FDA used to ban it in cosmetics. The FDA allowed it in food because the agency concluded the rat findings did not predict human cancer risk at dietary exposure levels.
