Breaking: FDA Finally Bans Synthetic Red Dye No. 3

It only took the FDA 118 years to ban Red Dye No. 3—a synthetic food additive derived from petroleum the agency knew was linked to cancer since the 1980s.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today it is finally banning FD&C Red Dye No. 3—a synthetic, petroleum-based food additive that has been used in thousands of products for more than a century. Found in candies, baked goods, snacks, and even over-the-counter medications, this dye has long been linked to cancer.

The FDA issued an order…