These Popular Foods Used Red Dye No. 3 Before the Ban

Popular products that contained the dangerous Red Dye No. 3

Brach's Red Velvet Candy Corn | ©Image Credit: Flickr / Mike Mozart
Brach's Red Velvet Candy Corn | ©Image Credit: Flickr / Mike Mozart

Brace yourselves, foodies! On January 15, 2025, the FDA officially announced a ban on the once-ubiquitous Red Dye No. 3, responding to long-standing health concerns and a 2022 color additive petition. This decision forces manufacturers to reformulate a plethora of vibrant treats.

The ban follows decades of debate and mounting evidence linking the synthetic colorant to cancer in laboratory animals. Food companies have until January 15, 2027, to phase out this crimson additive, while pharmaceutical manufacturers get an extra year, until January 18, 2028, to make the switch.

More than 2,000 products currently contain Red Dye No. 3 and will have to undergo modification. Below is a roundup of popular (and sometimes surprising) products that once flaunted the rosy hue of Red No. 3 before it got axed.

Pez Candy

Pez Candy collection
©Image Credit: Flickr / aaronHwarren

Remember Pez dispensers with their playful pop culture heads? These iconic little bricks are tinted with Red Dye No. 3 to achieve that tangy, fruit-flavored look.

Origin and History: Pez was invented in 1927 in Vienna, Austria, by Eduard Haas III as a breath mint. The iconic dispensers were introduced in 1949, and the candy expanded to the U.S. in 1952.

Ban Implications: Pez will need to reformulate the cherry, grape, strawberry, lemon, and raspberry flavors that used Red Dye No. 3. This may affect the iconic color and potentially the flavor profile of these classic candies.

Maraschino Cherries

Maraschino Cherry placed over a drink
©Image Credit: Pexels / Collab Media

Whether perched on top of a sundae or giving your Shirley Temple its signature garnish, these neon cherries frequently get their candy-red sheen from Red No. 3.

Origin and History: Maraschino cherries originated in Croatia and were traditionally preserved in maraschino liqueur. The modern, non-alcoholic version was developed by Professor Ernest H. Wiegand at Oregon State University between 1925 and 1935.

Ban Implications: Many brands have already switched to Red 40, but those still using Red No. 3 will need to find alternatives, potentially impacting the bright red color consumers associate with these cocktail garnishes.

Brach’s Candy Corn

Brach's Autumn Mix Candy Corn
©Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Krista

This classic Halloween treat did more than just stir up the annual candy corn debate—it also packed an artificial punch with Red Dye No. 3 to enhance its orangey-red shade.

Origin and History: Candy corn was invented in the 1880s by George Renninger of the Wunderle Candy Company. Brach’s began producing it in 1920.

Ban Implications: Brach’s will need to find an alternative coloring method for their candy corn, potentially affecting its usual appearance. Ferrara, Brach’s parent company, has already begun the process of removing Red 3 from their products, and Brach’s Candy Corn shipping for Fall 2025 will not contain this dye.

Ring Pops

Ring pops Flickr
©Image Credit: Flickr / Mike Mozart

These wearable jewel-like candies that functioned both as an accessory and as a treat cranked the color dial way up, partly through the use of Red Dye No. 3, making them stand out in our trick-or-treat bags.

Origin and History: Ring Pops were invented in 1979 by Frank Richards as a way to stop his daughter from sucking her thumb.

Ban Implications: The brand will need to modify its strawberry and berry blast flavors, potentially altering the appearance of these popular wearable candies.

Certain Brands and Flavors of Ice Creams

Safeway's Signature SELECT Seasons Ice Cream Peppermint
©Image Credit: Safeway

From peppermint swirls to bright strawberry ribbons, various store-brand flavors such as Safeway’s Select peppermint ice cream and Kroger’s Neapolitan get that rosy flourish via Red No. 3.

Origin and History: Safeway, founded in 1915, and Kroger, established in 1883, are two of America’s largest supermarket chains. Both companies have long offered their own branded ice cream lines, including these specific flavors that used Red Dye No. 3.

Ban Implications: Safeway’s Select Peppermint Ice Cream is a seasonal favorite known for its festive pink color swirled with peppermint candy pieces. The loss of Red Dye No. 3 may affect the vibrant pink hue that customers associate with this holiday treat.

Kroger Neapolitan Ice Cream is a classic flavor combination of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. The strawberry portion, which likely used Red Dye No. 3 for its pink color, will need an alternative coloring method. This could potentially alter the visual appeal of the tricolor design that defines Neapolitan ice cream.

Popsicles, Including Nerds Bomb Pops

Nerds Bomb Pop
©Image Credit: Bomb Pop

From the explosive Nerds Bomb Pops to your run-of-the-mill fruit-flavored treats, popsicles have been painting our tongues with more than just fruity goodness and brain freeze, apparently.

Origin and History: Popsicles have been a beloved frozen treat since their accidental invention by Frank Epperson in the early 1900s. The exact year and location are disputed, but it likely occurred around 1905-1907 in Oakland, California, where the Epperson family had moved.

Ban Implications: Many fruit-flavored popsicles, especially those in cherry, strawberry, or raspberry flavors, have historically used Red Dye No. 3 to achieve their vibrant red hues. Manufacturers will need to reformulate these classics using alternative colorants. The Nerds Bomb Pops variation, which combines the classic Bomb Pop structure with Nerds candy flavors, will be particularly affected. The red portion of these tricolored popsicles typically used Red Dye No. 3 to achieve its bright color.

Cookies with Red Sprinkles

Walmart's Freshness Guaranteed Heart Sugar Cookies
©Image Credit: Walmart

Turns out, those festive red sprinkles on your cookies were more than just eye candy. Walmart’s Freshness Guaranteed heart sugar cookies and frosted circus animal cookies are among the treats sporting Red Dye No. 3.

Origin and History: Decorated cookies with colorful sprinkles have been a staple in American bakeries and households for decades. Walmart, founded in 1962, introduced its Freshness Guaranteed line to offer affordable, fresh-baked goods. Frosted circus animal cookies, popularized by brands like Mother’s and Keebler, have been delighting consumers since the mid-20th century.

Ban Implications: Walmart’s Freshness Guaranteed Heart Sugar Cookies, often sold around Valentine’s Day, feature a sugar cookie base with bright red sprinkles. The ban will require Walmart to modify the red sprinkles used on these popular seasonal treats.

Frosted Circus Animal Cookies, known for their pink and white frosting and colorful sprinkles, will need to find an alternative for the red sprinkles that typically appear in the mix. This could potentially affect the overall appearance and nostalgic appeal of these beloved snacks.

Nesquik Strawberry-Flavored Low-Fat Milk

Nesquik Strawberry-Flavored Low-Fat Milk
©Image Credit: Walmart

A childhood fave, this pink, fruity milk was frequently jazzed up with the neon pop of Red Dye No. 3.

Origin and History: Nesquik was introduced in 1948 as a chocolate powdered milk flavoring. The strawberry flavor was added later.

Ban Implications: Nesquik will need to reformulate its strawberry flavor, potentially affecting the color and taste of this popular flavored milk.

Imitation Bacon Bits

Betty Crocker's Suddenly Pasta Salad Ranch and Bacon
©Image Credit: Amazon

Some brands of Imitation bacon bits, including those found in Betty Crocker pasta salads, use a dash of Red No. 3 to mimic that smoky, bacon-like rosy hue.

Origin and History: Imitation bacon bits were invented in the 1960s as a vegetarian alternative to real bacon. They quickly became popular in salads, baked potatoes, and other dishes. Betty Crocker, a brand name and fictional character created by General Mills in 1921, has long used these bacon-flavored bits in some of their packaged pasta salad products.

Ban Implications: The ban could affect popular products, including Betty Crocker’s Suddenly Salad Bacon and Ranch Pasta Salad mix. The challenge for manufacturers will be to maintain the realistic appearance of bacon without using Red Dye No. 3. This may involve using other FDA-approved colorants or natural alternatives.

Jack Link’s Beef and Cheddar Sticks

Jack Link’s Beef and Cheddar Sticks
©Image Credit: Jack Link’s

These protein-packed go-to gas station snacks were hiding more than just a cheesy secret. Jack Link’s beef and cheddar sticks were among the unexpected products containing Red Dye No. 3. It seems even our meaty treats aren’t immune to the red dye drama.

Origin and History: Jack Link’s was founded in 1986, expanding on a family tradition of meat processing. The company has grown from a small family business to become one of the largest meat snack manufacturers in the world. Jack Link’s Beef and Cheddar Sticks are part of the company’s “Combos” line, which pairs meat sticks with real Wisconsin cheese.

Ban Implications: The company will need to modify its beef and cheddar sticks to remove Red Dye No. 3, potentially modifying the product’s appearance.

Vigo Yellow Rice

Vigo's Yellow Rice
©Image Credit: Vigo Foods

Despite its sunny hue, this popular Spanish-inspired side dish contains Red Dye No. 3. Talk about a plot twist in your paella!

Origin and History: Vigo Importing Co. was founded in 1947 in Tampa, Florida, by Antonino Alessi. The company gained popularity for its Yellow Rice, inspired by traditional Spanish recipes. This product combines long-grain rice with a blend of spices, including saffron, and comes in a vibrant yellow color and rich flavor.

Ban Implications: The FDA’s ban on Red Dye No. 3 will directly impact Vigo Yellow Rice, as the product uses this colorant along with Yellow No.5 and saffron to achieve its vibrant yellow color. Vigo will need to reformulate their product to comply with the new regulations, potentially affecting both the appearance and possibly the taste of this widely consumed rice dish.

Canned Fruit in Fruit Juice

Publix Fruit Cocktail
©Image Credit: Publix

Canned fruits in fruit juice, including those innocent-looking mixed fruit cups from Publix, such as the Publix Chunky Mixed Fruit, Publix Fruit Cocktail, and the Publix Cherry Mixed Fruit, contains Red No. 3.

Origin and History: Canned fruits have been a staple in American pantries since the early 20th century, offering convenience and extended shelf life. Publix, a popular supermarket chain founded in 1930 in Florida, has long offered its own line of canned fruit products, including mixed fruit in fruit juice.

Ban Implications: Publix mixed fruit in fruit juice will require modification to remove Red Dye No. 3, which was likely used to enhance the color of certain fruits, particularly cherries. The ban may affect the vibrant appearance of the canned fruit mixture, potentially altering the familiar look that consumers associate with these products.