Red 3 (officially erythrosine, FD&C Red No. 3) is the cherry-red dye long used in candy, some fruit-cocktail cherries, frostings, and seasonal treats. Unlike the other food dyes, Red 3 has a clear regulatory endpoint: on January 15, 2025, the FDA revoked its authorization for use in food and ingested drugs. Manufacturers have until January 15, 2027 to reformulate foods (and January 18, 2028 for ingested drugs). After those dates Red 3 will be illegal in US food.
The ban closes a decades-old gap. The FDA banned Red 3 from cosmetics and topical drugs back in 1990 after studies showed it caused thyroid tumors in male rats — but it stayed legal in food for 35 more years. The 2025 revocation was triggered by a 2022 color-additive petition invoking the Delaney Clause, the federal law that prohibits any additive shown to cause cancer in humans or animals. California moved first: AB 418, the 2023 California Food Safety Act, banned Red 3 (along with potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, and propylparaben) statewide effective January 1, 2027.
For kids specifically, Red 3 is the food dye with the strongest regulatory case against it — it's the one dye now formally banned rather than merely "limited." If your child eats candy, cake decorations, or brightly colored seasonal treats, Red 3 is the additive most worth actively avoiding during the reformulation window. Many manufacturers already swapped to Red 40 or beet/radish-based reds years ago, so a lot of the market is Red 3-free already.
How to spot it on a label: Red 3 appears as "Red 3," "Erythrosine," "FD&C Red No. 3," or the EU code E127. Note it is a different dye from Red 40 (Allura Red) — a product can contain one, both, or neither. During the 2025–2027 phase-out you'll still find Red 3 on some shelves; check the ingredient list on candy, frosting, and maraschino cherries in particular.