Delaware legislators look to ban Red Dye 3
DELAWARE – Concerns tonight over a food additive that could be causing negative health effects.
We’re talking about Red Dye 3, a synthetic food dye used to give food and drink a bright, red color.
State Representative Bryan Shupe and State Senator Eric Buckson are both sponsoring legislation that would ban the manufacture, sale and distribution of products containing Red Dye 3.
They said this is due to rising health concerns with the product.
“We have seen that studies from our own government, and from third parties, have shown that the red dye has concerns of causing cancer in humans,” said Rep. Shupe.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a nationwide ban on Red Dye 3.
The new rule requires food manufacturers to phase out the additive by January 15, 2027, but Rep. Shupe said it’s important to put the ban into Delaware law.
“Putting it into state law makes sure that there’s no loop holes for producers of food to put it into the first state, or that if the FDA for some reason changes its classification on what that red dye is, that we don’t have to go back and change our laws here in Delaware,” said Shupe.
If enacted, Delaware would join 11 other states including Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to ban the additive.
In addition to concerns about causing cancer, concerns that it’s affecting our children.
“Other impacts in our youth would be hyperactivity, asthma and some other things that kind of challenge our students in the classroom when it comes to learning,” said Sen. Eric Buckson.
Red Dye 3 is most commonly found in certain candies, cupcakes, frozen deserts and frostings, as well as certain ingested drugs.
Sen. Buckson says this type of regulation is important to the safety of consumers in Delaware.
“If you’re going to regulate food products, and we are, as a government, then it’s important that we regulate them in a way that ensures their safety,” said Buckson.
If the bills are signed into law, the legislation would take effect on October 1, 2027.
