Food colouring that studies claim causes cancer could finally be banned in the USA

The US is one step closer to banning a food dye that studies say may cause serious health problems, including cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could ban the coloring, commonly found in soda, snacks, cereals, and candy.

Called Red 3, it's made from petroleum and gives food and beverages a bright, cherry red color.

Personally, neon-colored foods scare me - they don't exactly look natural. Although, as a child, I definitely ate my fair share of bright candies...

Red 3 gives sweets its bright red color (Paper Boat Creative)

Countries in Europe, Asia, and Australasia, including the UK, Japan, China, Australia, and New Zealand, have already banned the additive.

Meanwhile, the US banned Red 3 in cosmetics back in 1990 - and California became the first state to ban it as a food additive in 2023.

Ten states - Washington, South Dakota, Missouri, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maryland, and West Virginia - have introduced their own legislation to restrict the use of the additive.

Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, said it’s been over a decade since the safety of the synthetic color additive Red No. 40 has been re-evaluated.

Speaking at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee meeting last week, he said: "With Red 3, we have a petition in front of us to revoke the authorization board, and we’re hopeful that in the next few weeks we’ll be acting on that petition."

The additive has been claimed to be linked to thyroid cancer (Kinga Krzeminska/Getty Images)

House Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone Jr urged: "With the holiday season in full swing where sweet treats are abundant, it is frightening that this chemical remains hidden in these foods that we and our children are eating.

"While food companies must ensure that the food they market is safe, they are also only required to ensure that their products meet FDA’s standards. This means that thousands of products that contain this chemical can remain on the market.”

Research has suggested that Red 3 may cause cancer, with long-term animal feeding studies indicating that it causes 'adenomas and carcinomas of the thyroid gland'.

It may also contribute to hyperactivity in children, which is thought to be linked with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.

And Red 3 isn't the only potentially dangerous food dye still used in the US.

According to the National Institute of Health, there is evidence that several other dyes also are carcinogenic, including Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, which have been found to be contain benzidine or other carcinogens.

Meanwhile, at least four dyes - Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 - cause hypersensitivity reactions.