FDA ban on Red Dye No. 3 to have minimal impact on pet food industry

On January 15,  the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced plans to revoke the authorization of FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs due to studies linking the dye to cancer in animals. FD&C Red No. 3 is a synthetic food dye made from petroleum that gives foods and drinks a bright, cherry-red color.

The FDA noted FD&C Red No. 3 has been primarily used in certain food products, such as candy, cakes and cupcakes, cookies, frozen desserts, and frostings and icings, as well as certain ingested drugs. The FDA's announcement primarily addresses human food and ingested drugs and does not explicitly mention pet food.

The role of color in pet food

While color is of little consequence to dogs and cats, pet parents judge the quality and palatability of the food they buy largely by its appearance. Color is often added to ensure consistency and to minimize the impact of variable raw materials. While there may be a few pet foods and snacks that use FD&C Red No. 3., Louise Calderwood, American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) director of regulatory affairs, doesn't think the ban will have much impact on the pet food industry.

"While the Association of American Feed Control Officials lists Red Dye No. 3 in the Official Publication as an ingredient that is safe to use in animal food, many of our members have shared that they are already using alternative ingredients," she said. "We do not expect pet food manufacturers to suffer much hardship over the FDA’s decision."

Food manufacturers will have two years -- until January 15, 2027 -- to reformulate their products. Companies that make ingested drugs, such as dietary supplements, will get an additional year. California, Illinois and Washington, as well as eight other states, have already moved to ban the food dye, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. It's also banned or severely restricted in places outside the U.S., including Australia, Japan and countries in the European Union.