Red 3 (Erythrosine) Side Effects

Red 3 (Erythrosine) is a artificial food dye with 3 high-severity side effects. Found in 5 products in our database. Being phased out — FDA announced ban effective January 2027 for food, January 2028 for drugs.

5
Known Side Effects
5
Products Contain It
3
High Severity
4
Safer Alternatives

What Is Red 3 (Erythrosine)?

Red 3 (Erythrosine) is a cherry-red synthetic dye. The FDA banned it from cosmetics in 1990 due to thyroid cancer links but allowed it in food for over 30 years. It is finally being phased out of food products.

Also known as:
ErythrosineFD&C Red No. 3E127

Known Side Effects

High Risk Thyroid tumors in animal studies
High Risk Thyroid hormone disruption
Moderate Hyperactivity in children
Moderate Genotoxicity concerns
High Risk Already banned in US cosmetics since 1990 due to cancer

Regulatory Status

🇺🇸 FDA Status

Being phased out — FDA announced ban effective January 2027 for food, January 2028 for drugs.

🇪🇺 EU Status

Restricted use. Limited applications in the EU.

Scientific References

  1. FDA's own studies showing thyroid tumors in rats (1990)
  2. Delaney Clause triggered ban in cosmetics but not food
  3. CSPI decades-long petition for food ban

Products Containing Red 3 (Erythrosine) (5 found)

These products were found to contain red 3 (erythrosine) or its variants in our database of 26,000+ grocery products.

#ProductBrandScore
1Equate Clear Liquid Hand SoapUnknown4/100
2PARENT'S CHOICE, NUTRITIONAL SHAKE, CHOCOLATEPARENT'S CHOICE68/100
3TARGET STORE SUGAR COOKIE KIT, TARGET STORETarget Stores68/100
4CANDY FAVORITES HOLIDAY ROYAL MIXBig Y Foods, Inc.68/100
5ARCHER FARMS, GUPID'S CRUNCH TRAIL MIXTarget Stores68/100

Safer Alternatives to Red 3 (Erythrosine)

Beet juicePomegranate extractElderberry extractHibiscus
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the side effects of Red 3?
Red 3 has been linked to thyroid tumors in animal studies, thyroid hormone disruption, hyperactivity in children, and genotoxicity. It was banned from US cosmetics in 1990 due to cancer links.
Is Red 3 banned?
Yes — the FDA announced a phase-out. Red 3 will be banned in food by January 2027 and in drugs by January 2028. It was already banned in cosmetics since 1990.

⚕️ Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Side effect data is compiled from published scientific studies and regulatory assessments. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance. Last updated: 2026-03-05.

Other Ingredient Side Effects

Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) Aspartame Sucralose Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) All Ingredient Side Effects Banned in Europe Ingredient Encyclopedia
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📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "Red 3 (Erythrosine) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/side-effects/red-3
MLA"Red 3 (Erythrosine) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-03-05. https://getcheck.it/side-effects/red-3.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/side-effects/red-3">Red 3 (Erythrosine) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026sideeffectsred3, title = {Red 3 (Erythrosine) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/side-effects/red-3}, note = {Retrieved 2026-03-05} }