FDA Bans Use of Red Dye No. 3

On January 15, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made an amendment to the color additive regulations which bans the use of FD&C Red No. 3 dye in food and medicines. FD&C Red No 3. is also known as Red Dye No. 3, Red Dye 3, and erythrosine and is a synthetic food dye that causes a bright red color. Red Dye No. 3 can be found in some medicines and many foods including candy, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, popsicles, and frosting.

Studies showed that high levels of FD&C Red No. 3 dye caused cancer in male laboratory rats. Although there has been no evidence of FD&C Red No. 3 causing cancer in humans, due to the Delaney clause the color additive cannot be used in food. The Delaney Clause states any food or color additive found to cause cancer in humans or animals must be banned. For more information regarding the health concerns relating to Red Dye No. 3, visit the FDA’s website, FD&C Red No. 3 | FDA .

The FDA will provide guidance and recommended alternatives to drug manufacturers that often use the color additive. These companies will have until January 18, 2028, to completely remove FD&C Red No 3 from their products.

FDA Revokes Use of FD&C Red No.3 in Foods and Drugs

 

 

 

FDA Public Health Alert: Elevated Lead in Ground Cinnamon

The FDA found unsafe levels of lead in some children’s applesauce in 2023, and tracked this to lead contamination in ground cinnamon in the applesauce. These products have been recalled, but this launched a larger investigation of lead in ground cinnamon products. Since March 2024, FDA has issued public health alerts related to multiple ground cinnamon products found to contain unsafe lead levels.  The products listed below have been reported in three different public health alerts:

People who have any of the products listed below should check the FDA alerts to see if their cinnamon is from a lot or product code found to contain lead and if there is a recall listed. If there is a recall, follow the recall directions for returning the product. If you have cinnamon from a lot or product code that was found to contain lead and there is no manufacturer recall, you should throw out the product.

Products Included in the Lead in Ground Cinnamon Public Health Alerts—Check FDA Alerts for Lots/Codes Covered

Brand Name Location Product Image
ALB Flavor Eurogrocery
Compania Indillor Orientale Eurogrocery
El Chilar El Torito Market and La Joya Morelense
El Servidor Mannan Supermarket
La Fiesta La Superior and Supermercados
La Frontera Frutas Y Abarrtoes Mexico
Marcum Save-A-Lot Food Stores
MK SF Supermarket MTCI Santa Fe Springs CA - SF Supermarket
Shahzada Premium Supermarket
Spice Class Fish World
Supreme Tradition Family Tree and Dollar Tree
SWAD Patel Brothers

 

 

FDA Finds Lead in More Ground Cinnamon Products

Since lead was found in applesauce last year and determined to be from the cinnamon used, the FDA and partner states have been testing ground cinnamon products for lead. Since March 2024, FDA has found multiple ground cinnamon products with unsafe levels of lead. To this point, all of the products have had much lower levels than the cinnamon found in the applesauce that was recalled. However, these products are still hazardous to people’s health, especially children and pregnant women. You can see if you have bought any of these products at the FDA website:

Some products have been voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer and can be returned to the store for a refund. Others have not been recalled yet. People with these cinnamon products should not continue to use them and should throw them away.

FDA Warns Getting Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer in Eyes Can Cause Injury

The FDA released a warning that getting alcohol-based hand sanitizer in a person’s eyes can result in serious eye injury.  With the increased use of hand sanitizers, the number of such injuries has gone up. The risk is highest for children, because they may not know how to use hand sanitizer safely, and wall- or stand-mounted hand sanitizer dispensers are at eye level for them so they are at greater risk of being splashed when dispensing hand sanitizer.

To reduce the risk of injury, hand sanitizer should never be applied in or around the eye. When hand sanitizer is used, the hands should be rubbed until the sanitizer fully evaporates and the hands are dry. If eye contact does occur, immediately rinse the eye with water for 15-20 minutes. Get urgent medical help if irritation persists.