January 15, 2025

Is it the end of Valentine’s Red and Christmas Red treats? Today, the FDA is rocking the food industry with their announcement to amend their color additives regulations and no longer allow the use of FD&C Red 3 in food and ingested drugs. Manufacturers will have until January 15, 2027 or January 18, 2028, respectively, to reformulate their products without Red 3. Food importers to the U.S. will also be required to comply with this FDA requirement to Revoke Authorization for the Use of Red No. 3 in Food and Ingested Drugs. But what does all of this really mean for all of us?

What is Red 3?

Erythrosine, also known as Red No. 3 (or Red 3), is a synthetic dye derivative of the chemical compound fluorone. It is a pink dye that gives foods and drinks a bright, cherry-red color. This dye is primarily used in beverages, candies, cakes and cupcakes, cookies, frozen desserts, frostings and icings, sprinkles, snacks, crackers, beans, pasta, protein shakes, dry mixes, as well as certain oral medications. 

Red 3 was first approved by the FDA in 1907 and is listed on ingredient statements as FD&C Red No. 3 or Erythrosine. This dye hasn’t been allowed by the FDA for use in cosmetics and external drugs for over 30 years, but remain allowed to be used in foods, ingested drugs and supplements in very limited and controlled amounts. 

A common misconception is that this latest ruling is affecting all synthetic red dyes, but it only affects the Red 3 dye. Red 40 (also called Allura Red AC or E129 in Europe) remains authorized for use in food products by the FDA since the 1970s. The hues produced using this dye are often less vibrant and bright than the ones produced with Red 3, but it is a great alternative for many applications. Chefmaster Super Red liqua-gel® and Chefmaster Tulip Red liqua-gel®  are both formulated with Red 40 dye and provides vibrant red and pink hues.

Why this change?

Overtime, the chemical compound used to make Red 3 started being derived almost exclusively from petroleum via a stringent and highly regulated purification process. Although no direct correlation was established between consumption of Red 3 and cancer in human, the Erythrosine dye has long been at the center of a controversy based on the results of several studies conducted on lab animals. 

Red 3 is not allowed to use as a color additive for use in foods and beverage by the European Union since 1994 (except for a few products such as Maraschino Cherries). Japan, China, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand have similar regulations. But, most other countries (including neighboring Canada and Mexico) are allowing for its use as a color additive.

In November 2022, a petition to Request To Revoke Color Additive Listing for Use of FD&C Red No. 3 in Food and Ingested Drugs was filed with the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration. 

On October 7th, 2023 California Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 418 (AB 418), also referred to as The California Food Safety Act, into law. This state legislation prohibits the use of Red 3, along with Brominated Vegetable Oil, Potassium Bromate and Propylparaben in the manufacture, sale, delivery, distribution, holding or offering for sale in commerce of any food products for human consumption after January 1st, 2027. California, the fifth largest economy in the world, was the first state in the United States to take such a measure. 

Following California’s decision, many other states started considering similar regulations. During the 2024 Presidential campaign, discussions surrounding food safety took centerstage (including the potential removal of Red 3, along with other food additives). As a result, the January 15, 2025 FDA ruling didn’t come as a much of a surprise to professionals in the food industry.

Who is affected?

Pretty much everyone. Food Scores, a database maintained by the Environmental Working Group, shows 465 brand-name food products containing Red 3, going way beyond the baking aisle, including hundreds made by the largest food companies in the US. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the food and drug industry has used over 200,000 pounds of Red 3 in 2021 alone.

Unfortunately, there is currently no exact substitute for Red 3. The entire industry has been working diligently for many years to find a replacement and new ingredients are continuously being developed and introduced into the marketplace. Some red food dyes allowed in Europe, but currently banned in the United States, are under further review for approval. Until then, this new regulation is going to impact most of the food and beverage industry as well as the pharmaceutical industry and you can expect to see some formulations changes and color variations affecting your favorite products nationwide over the next 2 years.

• Food, beverage, and pharmaceutical manufacturers will no longer be able to use any Red 3 in their formulation starting January 1st, 2027 in California (AB 418) and January 15th, 2027 in the rest of the country (January 18, 2028 for ingested drugs). 

• Food distributors, trucking companies, food storage facilities will not be allowed to transport, distribute, or store any food products containing these ingredients.

• Restaurants, fast foods, retail bakeries, or other food services companies will no longer be able to purchase and serve food products to their consumers prepared using Red 3.

• Retail stores and chains (regardless of their sizes) will no longer be allowed to sell products containing Red 3 in their stores. 

• Online retailers and e-commerce platforms will also no longer be allowed to sell products containing red 3 online, even if coming from overseas.  

• Home bakers, hobby cake decorators and cookie decorators used to purchase food coloring, candies, sprinkles, and other edible decoration containing Red 3 will need to change their habits and start experimenting with products not containing any Red 3 as they sometimes react a little differently than the ones with Red 3.

• Individuals might notice a slight flavor and/o color variation in their favorite food or snacks if they contain Red 3, but very few products should be discontinued.  

What food colorings currently have Red 3?

Will my favorite Chefmaster products be affected?

Like most food coloring manufacturers in the US and abroad, Chefmaster has been using Red 3 and propylparabens in some of their products, but always within FDA guidelines and more often than not well under the maximum quantities allowed in foods. Red 3 is used in variable amounts to create some shades of Pink, Red, Purple, Blue and Brown colors. Liquid gel, gel, airbrush and powdered food colorings are all affected.

As one of the leading food coloring manufacturers in the U.S. we have been closely monitoring dyes related studies and regulations being introduced nationwide. Chefmaster also pioneered a high-performing dye-free line of natural food coloring (both in liquid gel and airbrush format) that have been trusted by many of our industrial and commercial customers for over 20 years.

With California on the forefront of Red 3 removal, Chefmaster proactively expanded our R&D team and our food scientists have been hard at work finding alternative solutions to replace Red 3. 

We have already successfully reformulated many of our food coloring using Red 40 and/or some alternative solutions to Red 3 and are confident that we will be fully compliant prior to 2027. All our new formulas are being developed without the use of Red 3 nor parabens (to comply with California AB 418) and we are testing every new reliable Red 3 replacement solution as soon as it hits the market.

Chefmaster.com provides ingredients statement on each of our individual product page. You can easily access the ingredients listing by clicking on the INGREDIENTS tab.

During this transition phase, Chefmaster is providing online shoppers with an easy way to find products that do not contain Red 3 via our NO Red 3 products collection. While some of our loyal customers are looking at avoiding purchasing products containing Red 3 as soon as possible, we understand that many are also hoping to stock up on their favorites while they are still available. We will update our website regularly as we transition our remaining products to formulations meeting the new FDA guidelines. 

With over 80 years of expertise in color innovation and custom blending, you can count on Chefmaster R&D team to do our part and develop customized solutions meeting the needs of all our industrial and commercial customers so everybody can continue celebrating and enjoying their favorite food or beverage.

To answer the initial question at the beginning of this blog: YES, Valentine’s Day and Christmas Reds are saved!