A food dye that gives candy, frosting, cookies and even some ingested medications their cherry-red color is banned in the U.S., including several products branded for Valentine’s Day.
The FDA announced the ban of Red No. 3 food dye on Wednesday. It could impact the thousands of consumer products that contain the color additive that was already banned from cosmetics over 30 years ago. Companies will have up to three years to reformulate their products, the FDA said.
There are over 2,000 products sold in the U.S. in recent years that contain Red No. 3, according to a list compiled by the Environmental Working Group, one of the advocacy groups that filed a petition to the FDA.
Candy
Brach’s candy corn
Valentine’s Day candy including Brach’s iconic conversation hearts and the Favorite Day Cupid gummy box
Pez
Ring Pops
Desserts
Certain brands and flavors of ice cream, including Safeway’s Select peppermint ice cream and Kroger Neapolitan ice cream
Popsicles, including Nerds Bomb Pops
Frosting found on cupcakes and other cakes, like Target’s Favorite Day Valentine’s Day cupcakes
Cookies with red sprinkles, such as Walmart’s Freshness Guaranteed heart sugar cookies, and frosted circus animal cookies
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