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Red 3 (Erythrosine)

Not approved

Banned from US food (Jan 2025) and cosmetics (1990) after rat studies linked it to thyroid tumors.

E / INS number: E127
CAS number: 16423-68-0
Class: Artificial Dye
Allowed in organic: No

Also known as

e127erythrosinefd&c red no. 3

Regulatory status

Jurisdiction	Status	Notes	Source
EU	restricted	Permitted in the EU only for cocktail cherries and candied cherries (Annex II of Regulation 1333/2008). (2008-12-16)	European Commission
US	banned	FDA revoked authorization for use of FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs in January 2025 due to rat thyroid tumor evidence. (2025-01-15)	FDA

Other artificial dye ingredients

Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF)Blue 1 Lake (Brilliant Blue FCF Aluminum Lake)Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)Caramel Color (Class IV)Caramel Color (generic)Citrus Red 2 Green 3 (Fast Green FCF)Red 40 (Allura Red AC)Red 40 Lake (Allura Red AC Aluminum Lake)Titanium Dioxide Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)

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Educational information, not medical, dietary, or safety advice. Classifications reflect our editorial rules plus cited regulatory sources. Always read the product’s own label.