Red 3

Definition

Red 3 (Erythrosine) is a synthetic dye largely make of iodine. It is commonly used in candy, popsicles and cake decorating gels. Approved for use in food and ingested drugs. No longer approved for cosmetics, external drugs or lakes (another type of synthetic coloring).

Also Known As

Red #3, RED NO. 3, Erythrosine

Health Impact

Some people, especially children, may be sensitive to food dyes, and have experienced allergic reactions when consuming them. Artificial food dyes have also been linked to increased behavioral problems in children, especially those with ADHD, because they may cause chemical changes in the brain, inflammation, and depletion of minerals that are important to growth and development.

Sources

• Potential impacts of synthetic food dyes on activity and attention in children: a review of the human and animal evidence

  BioMed Central (BMC)

• Artificial Food Colors and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Symptoms: Conclusions to Dye for

  US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health

• Color Additives History

  FDA

• Mechanisms of behavioral, atopic, and other reactions to artificial food colors in children

  Pub Med

• Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risk

  Center for Science in the Public Interest