Red Dye No. 3, or erythrosine, is making headlines with California looking to ban it along with four other toxic food additives.
Derived from petroleum, the synthetic red dye is responsible for giving many ultra-processed foods and drinks their bright colors and boasts a long list of uses—from candies and sodas to cereals and protein shakes. Several National Institute of Health studies have shown prolonged consumption of the dye to be carcinogenic in lab rats and it is linked to hyperactivity in children and impaired thyroid function.
