Health Canada Says Red 3 Dye, Banned in the U.S., Poses No Human Risk
Health Canada has reaffirmed that Red 3, a synthetic food dye recently banned in the U.S., does not pose a health risk to Canadians and will remain in the country’s food supply unless new evidence suggests otherwise.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned Red 3 over concerns it could cause cancer in lab rats, citing a legal requirement to prohibit food additives found to cause cancer in animals or humans. However, Health Canada says the rat-specific hormonal mechanism behind these findings does not apply to humans and that current scientific evidence does not support claims that the dye is harmful to people.
A 2018 review by a joint committee of the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) found no safety concerns associated with Red 3 in food. Health Canada says it will continue to monitor new scientific data and take action if any human health risks emerge.
🔹 McGill University scientist Joe Schwarcz supports banning Red 3—not due to health concerns, but because he believes artificial dyes add no nutritional value and encourage ultra-processed food consumption.
🔹 McMaster University researcher Waliul Khan, however, remains cautious. His 2022 study on Allura Red (Red 40)—another widely used synthetic dye—linked long-term exposure to potential gut inflammation in mice. He advocates for warning labels on foods containing artificial dyes and calls for further research on their long-term effects on humans.
Also known as erythrosine (FD&C Red No. 3), the dye gives a bright, cherry-red color to:
✔ Candy
✔ Cakes & cookies
✔ Frostings
✔ Other ultra-processed foods
Some experts suggest replacing Red 3 with natural alternatives such as beet juice extract or anthocyanins from berries, which add color without potential health concerns. However, funding challenges and ethical issues in human trials make large-scale studies on food dyes difficult.
For now, Health Canada stands by its assessment that Red 3 is safe, but remains open to reviewing new scientific evidence.