Red Food Dye #40, Food Additive - What You Need to Know

What is is:

Food dyes that are cherry red and orange red, respectively. Red #40 is the most widely used food dye in America.

In which foods is it used:

Fruit cocktail, candy, chocolate cake, cereal, beverages, pastries, maraschino cherries, and fruit snacks

How bad is this food additive:

The FDA has proposed a ban on Red #3 in the past, but so far the agency has been unsuccessful in implementing it. After the dye was inextricably linked to thyroid tumors in rat studies, the FDA managed to have the liquid form of the dye removed from external drugs and cosmetics

Red Dye 40 is a commonly used synthetic food dye made from petroleum that is linked to allergies, migraine, and mental disorders in children. It is approved in both the U.S. and the European Union for use in foods and beverages.

Synonyms:

It it goes by the following names:

Red 40.
Red 40 Lake.
FD&C Red No. 40.
FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake

Products known to contain Red dye 40 include:

Dairy products: Flavored milk, yogurt, ice cream, sherbet, and frozen yogurt
Sweets and baked goods: Cakes, pastries, candy, and chewing gum
Snacks: Breakfast cereals, bars, chips, fruit snacks, and jello
Beverages: Soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, and powdered drink mixes
Condiments: Maraschino cherries and other sauces
Yoplait Light Fat Free Strawberry
Other: Fruit juices, protein powders, and packaged snacks

Red dye 40 is one of the most commonly used food color additives. It's derived from petroleum by-products and is created through a chemical process. While the FDA has ruled that red dye 40 is safe for public consumption, some people are petitioning the FDA to include a warning label in all foods that contain it. A 2022 study found that frequent consumption of red dye 40 may increase the risk of developing inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).