By: Nisa Keshwani
February 4, 2025
Those cherries at the top of Grandma’s holiday treat may have been poisoned. Yes, those syrupy, gooey bursts of flavor are, in fact, toxic. The culprit is... red food dye. Rewinding the Cougar Chronicles archive back four years, this exact story was published in an article titled “Red is the Imposter.” The article stated: “The Food and Drug Administration has banned certain uses of Red Dye No. 3, affirming studies that have revealed excessively high doses of the color additive can cause cancer in laboratory animals. However, despite multiple studies emphasizing the negative impacts of red coloring, the FDA still allows it in food.”
Since then, there has been a new update on this food coloring fiasco. Exactly 20 days ago, the FDA released a statement revoking the use of Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs (https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-revoke-authorization-use-red-no-3-food-and-ingested-drugs). This sudden change was in line with the Delaney Clause, a part of the Color Additives Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Alas, the FDA has acknowledged the harmful reality of Red 3. It is not JUST a pop of color; it is a carcinogen, a toxin, and a threat to humanity. Millions of consumers have fallen victim to purchasing these toxic products. From Brach’s candy corn to Nesquik strawberry milk and the infamous Maraschino cherries, numerous products have had Red 3 on their list of ingredients.
After interviewing students at Evergreen Valley High School, we found that most were unaware of this new ban. Mariana, a student in AP English Language, said, “I had no idea this food dye is so poisonous. I add (Maraschino) cherries to all my pastries! That’s scary.” Another student questioned, “Why wasn’t this information made publicly available on food labels to warn us?”
Although the FDA was aware of the potential risks of ingesting Red 3 since the nineties, the organization has only implemented the ban now. But why? Despite studies showing Red 3 causes thyroid tumors in murine models, the agency faced pressure from the food industry to permit the use of the dye. Companies, like those who sell Maraschino cherries, rallied for support against bans, further postponing the removal of Red 3 from food products.
With the lack of efforts being made to protect the public, the ethical standards of these “protection agencies” begin to be questioned. Carcinogens should not be placed on shelves, ready to be sold in stores. In the past few years, new policies were put into place regarding food oversight. Specifically, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2024 is rebuilding the food safety system by "shifting the focus from responding to foodborne illness to preventing it."
So, the next time Grandma bakes a tray of pastries, remind her to throw away the three-year-old jar of signature Maraschino cherries sitting at the back of the pantry. Here’s to protecting the future from Red 3!
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