The Food and Drug Administration has not formally re-evaluated the safety of a food dye called Red 40 in more than a decade, the agency's top food official said this month when asked about new concerns over its potential behavioral health effects. .
The agency has launched a new effort To take a second look at some of the additives already approved. But Jim Jones, the FDA's deputy commissioner for human foods, warned that their budget is too small and it will take years to catch up with other countries.
Jones told Senator Tommy Tuberville, “We are decades behind the Europeans and our Canadian counterparts in having the legal authority to reevaluate authorized chemicals.” hearing Of the Senate Health Committee.
Tuberville also asked Jones about a different food coloring called red 3which advocacy groups have filed a petition Studies have shown that it causes cancer in animals. Jones suggested it could take a few weeks for the agency to impose a ban.
The decades-old controversy over synthetic food dyes has received renewed attention on Capitol Hill, thanks in part to vocal criticism. robert f kennedy jrPresident-elect Donald Trump's choice department head Overseeing the FDA and other health agencies.
“Senator Tuberville looks forward to working with the incoming Trump Administration make america healthy againTuberville was surprised to learn that the FDA had not reviewed the safety of Red 40 for so long, referring to the slogan promoted by RFK Jr., a spokesman for the Alabama Republican said.
What is scarlet 40?
FD&C Red Number 40, or Red 40 for short, is FDA name To refer to the color additive first registered with the agency. in the 1970schemical known as Allura Red AC in the food industry and e 129 in Europe.
Now it is mostly synthesized from petroleum.
Further chemical reactions mixing the dye with aluminum create “Red 40 Lake”. Lacquer is often used for products such as chewing gum, where the product does not contain enough moisture to dissolve the dye, or in products such as frosting to help prevent colors from bleeding.
fda They say It subjects the production of Red 40 and some other synthetic dyes to phased scrutiny, checking for any contaminants from the production process of each batch.
Among the colors passing this purity certification, Red 40 is consistently included rank The one producing the largest quantity each quarter.
“People think that 'I know which foods have dyes in them and which don't,' but no, you don't. There may be dyes in white foods, in foods marketed as healthy and natural. There may be dyes, egg noodles may contain dyes, it's very hard to know them and avoid them, “unless you look at the label,” said environmental health consultant Lisa Lefferts.
Lefferts was closely involved in the Center for Science in the Public Interest's effort to get the FDA to curb the use of synthetic food dyes, as well. a new law Red 40 and some other dyes will be banned in school meals in California starting in 2028.
“If you talk to parents whose children are sensitive to dyes, they will tell you how difficult it is to avoid dyes and how big a deal it is for their entire family to make an effort to eliminate these dyes from their children's diet. There was change.” He said.
Which foods and beverages contain red dye 40?
An FDA study was published in 2016 It is estimated that children are most exposed to Red 40 from beverages, frozen sweets and cereals.
Database published by US Department of Agriculture and non-profit environmental working group Match thousands of foods with Red 40. It is also present in medicines and cosmetics.
These include products like Kellogg's Froot LoopsA cereal brand that Kennedy has criticized. the cook has faced the call To remove artificial colors, as was done for less fluorescent versions of Froot Loops sold in other countries like canadaOther major cereal brands like lucky Charms General Mills also has Red 40.
Froot Loops manufacturer WK Kellogg said That its foods are safe and all its ingredients comply with federal regulations.
Many frozen dessert products also rely on Red 40, including Turkey Hill. Black Raspberry Premium Ice CreamBreyers' M&M's Minis Caramel Fudge Light Ice Creamblue bells Birthday Cake Vanilla Flavored Ice Cream Cups and blue bunny Strawberry Flavored Soft Frozen Dairy Dessert,
Red 40 is also used in many soft drinks. Gatorade Fruit Punch And Fanta SodaLike many other types of beverages, they may contain dyes. Strawberry milk brand or different common manufacturer pink lemonade mix,
Why is there a demand to ban Red Color 40?
Most of the calls to ban Red 40 come from research commissioned by British food authorities in 2007Which is linked to increased activity in children due to mixing of synthetic colors.
Following the findings, authorities in Europe did not ban the dyes across the continent. Canada too continues to allow Use of Red 40 and some other synthetic dyes.
But united kingdom And Europe Adding warnings to the labels of foods containing any of the dyes in the tested blends, including Red 40, states that they “may have adverse effects on children's activity and attention.”
A review by California's Environmental Protection Agency in 2021 Looking at dozens of studies, including Red 40, it was agreed that “synthetic food colorings may cause or aggravate neuro-behavioral problems in some children.”
Lefferts said that given the concerns over this risk, it was “no problem” that synthetic dyes should be removed from the food supply. He praised the California review for integrating data from animal and laboratory studies, which helped fill the gaps from human research to prove a causal link.
Lefferts said, “Synthetic food colors are completely unnecessary. They can be removed entirely or replaced with safer alternatives. Their purpose is purely cosmetic and we have all this evidence.”
In a statement, the International Association of Color Manufacturers cited the findings of previous FDA advisory panels, as well as European and International Health Authoritywho failed to conclude that there was a causal relationship between Red 40 and hyperactivity.
Sarah Codrea of the trade group said, “The FDA regulates the safety and labeling of all color additives, and it does so based on scientific evidence. Thus, the FDA has determined and continues to ensure that the “&C Red No. 40 is safe.” Executive Director.
Why is Red Dye 40 not banned in the US?
The FDA called a meeting of its food advisers after a British study warned officials in Europe about dyes like Red 40. in 2011 To review their security.
The panel narrowly voted against a similar warning. Most said they thought the study failed to prove a causal relationship, but were divided on whether the study warranted a warning.
“Causality is a distant aspiration, but certainly these data do not give us any confidence to say that there is nothing to worry about here,” committee member Dr. Francisco Javier Castellanos said during the meeting.
A meeting of the agency's science board later in 2019 An FDA spokesperson said, “Most children are not affected by the consumption of foods containing coloring agents, although some evidence suggests that some children may be part of a sensitive sub-population.”
“It is a priority for the FDA to reevaluate the safety of chemicals in foods as new, relevant data become available,” the spokesperson said.
Removing previously approved chemicals from the market is an uphill battle through cumbersome federal “rules out” The process, which requires the agency to defend its response to any questions or concerns raised by opponents of the measure – often companies with millions of dollars at stake.
Dennis Keefe, former director of the FDA, said, “The agency can't just wave a wand and say we don't like it anymore. There are many industries that have developed using this color mixture with the understanding that it It is safe.” Office of Food Additive Safety.
Keefe said adding the warning required agency lawyers to argue a “compelling reason for public health,” because of the high bar set by the First Amendment to compel speech to be on the label.
Lacking congressional action to mandate changes to fill gaps from past research or to fund expensive studies, Keefe said the agency faced more pressing public health priorities with its limited food budget. Fell.
Keefe said, “To take action the agency needs to defend it scientifically in the courts. And they need to have good data that Red 40 in particular is causing these hyperactivity. And the data is really that tight. Not there.” ,