What is FD&C1 Red 3?
FD&C Red 3, also known as erythrosine or E127 (outside of the U.S. and Canada), is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) certified artificial food color used in the food industry to provide food with a vibrant red color.
Is FD&C Red 3 safe?
The U.S. FDA has reviewed and approved FD&C Red 3 as safe for use in food and ingested drugs. However, the U.S. FDA banned FD&C Red 3 from being used in cosmetics, external drugs, and lakes2
How do I know if a product contains Red 3?
All certified added colors are listed on the ingredients statement label of the product. FDA permits FD&C Red 3 to be declared on the ingredients statement label by name – e.g., “FD&C Red 3” or “Red 3”.
Sources:
1FD&C (Federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act)
2Color Additive Status List (2009, December). In U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved May 22, 2014, from
http://www.fda.gov/forindustry/coloradditives/coloradditiveinventories/ucm106626.htm.