DeLauro Applauds Red 3 Ban

Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) applauded the Biden Administration’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for finalizing a ban on the carcinogenic food dyeFD&C No. 3, known as Red 3, in the use of foods: 

“There is no reason that a dye that has been banned in many products, including cosmetics, for thirty years should be in our food supply,” DeLauro said. “I have long called for action on largely unregulated additives and chemicals in our foods, and I applaud the FDA and the Biden Administration for acting to protect Americans’ health and eliminate this dangerous carcinogen from foods. Much work remains to be done, but the American public will be safer now that we are removing this dye from our foods, supplements, and drugs.”

In 1990, FDA banned the use of Red 3 in cosmetics and externally applied drugs, based on a study that found it caused cancer in rats. Under the Delaney Clause of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the FDA is required to ban any food additive that is found to cause cancer in humans or animals.

DeLauro sent a letter urging the Biden Administration to finalize a ban on Red 3. DeLauro’s November 25^th letter can be read here. She also joined Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone in calling for the ban on January 10^th.