Sales of Red Dye 3 Products Decline as FDA Bans More Synthetic Ingredients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision to phase out Red Dye 3, a synthetic ingredient that gives food and beverages a vibrant red color, already appears to be altering consumer behavior: They're buying less of the stuff.
The FDA's new plan to eliminate a handful of other petroleum-based dyes by the end of 2026-including Blue Dye 1, Green Dye 3, Yellow Dye 6-is bound to put even more pressure on major manufacturers, such as PepsiCo and General Mills, to come up with innovative formulations.
Figures from NielsenIQ (NIQ), a consumer intelligence firm, show sales of products containing Red Dye 3 have declined in past years, but took a sharp tumble in January following the FDA's declaration to remove the additive from the nation's food supply.
"Whether or not this is directly correlated with the ban announcement, it appears consumers are increasingly paying attention to these ingredients-especially since we have seen sales of products with Red Dye 3 trending downward since 2023," Sherry Frey, vice president of total wellness at NIQ, told ADWEEK.
At present, food and beverage brands use synthetic dyes in thousands of products. Red Dye 40, for example, appears in nearly 24,000 items. Yellow Dye 5 exists in more than 22,000.
The artificial ingredients are most prevalent in the following categories: candy, gum, mints, snacks, desserts, beverages, and baking supplies.
"Potential fallout from the synthetic food dye ban leaves these categories vulnerable and underscores the need for an urgent response," Frey added.
In reaction to the FDA's plan to ban artificial dyes, the National Confectioners Association noted it looks forward to working on the issue with Congress and the Trump Administration. 'We are in firm agreement that science-based evaluation of food additives will help eliminate consumer confusion and rebuild trust in our national food safety system,' read a statement from the trade group, whose members include Mars, Ferrara, and Hershey's.
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Brands, of course, have long relied on distinct colors to attract shoppers. UPS is known for its brown trucks. Most people can identify a piece of Tiffany's jewelry by its blue box. The same strategy applies to marketing certain food and beverages.
At the same time, demand for natural ingredients is growing. Nearly 25,000 items now feature labels claiming its contents are free from artificial colors, according to NIQ, reflecting a shift in consumer preferences for cleaner food options.
"The industry has been actively moving toward artificial dye alternatives for quite some time, as consumers have increasingly been paying attention to clean label attributes," said Frey. "We anticipate consumers will respond immediately to the recent bans."

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