Is red 40 safe? Here's what health experts want you to know

FD&C Red No. 40, more commonly known as red 40, is making headlines again as lawmakers debate whether food dyes should remain legal in the United States.

The dye, which has been registered with and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 1971, is used by food manufacturers to achieve a bright red color.

"Red 40 is an FDA-approved synthetic dye, but recently, it has gotten a lot of press about hyperactivity concerns in children and allergic reactions in sensitive individuals," Washington, D.C.-based dietitian and diabetes educator Caroline Thomason, RD, CDCES, tells USA TODAY. On Jan. 15, the FDA officially banned Red No. 3, leading to further interest in red 40.

Amid a cultural push of scrutinizing nutritional labels in the name of eating healthier, many consumers are questioning whether products containing the food dye are really OK to ingest. Here's what health experts want you to understand about the safety of red 40 consumption.

Why is red 40 banned?

California became the first state in the U.S. to enact a ban red 40 in September, when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill that will prohibit schools from serving foods containing six artificial food dyes, including red 40. It will go into effect beginning Dec. 31, 2027.

There is some evidence to suggest that children shouldn't be consuming red 40. Research has shown links between red 40 consumption and a rise in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. The FDA says "most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives, but some evidence suggests that certain children may be sensitive to them."

Several other state legislations including New York, Maryland, Illinois and South Dakota, have discussed red 40 bans, but none have passed bills officially banning the dye yet.

While the European Union hasn't outright banned red 40, it does require products containing the food dye to include a health warning label that it may impact children's activity and attention. And despite claims online that Canada has banned red 40, the country does still permit its use.

While nutrition experts wouldn't go as far as to actively promote consuming red 40, many argue that current research has shown red 40 to be safe for adults to consume in small or regular doses. Some studies have suggested the dye is a carcinogen to animals, but no research yet has been able to show the same case in humans.

"This is a 'dose makes the poison' situation," Thomason says. "Most research studies find that red dye 40 is safe and doesn't cause reactions for most people. At high concentrations, that aren't typically eaten in a standard American diet, we may start to see some of these effects."

The FDA regulates the use of food dyes including red 40, and claims that "color additives are safe when they are used in accordance with with FDA regulations," which includes the types of food to which manufacturers are allowed to add red 40, how much red 40 can be safely added and how red 40 must be labeled on the product's packaging.

Thomason adds: "Research is ongoing, and current evidence suggests that it’s generally safe in moderation for most people. However, if you feel safer avoiding it, that's your personal choice and many products on the market have come out with more natural alternatives."

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What foods have red 40?

Children (defined as ages 2 to 18) are most often exposed to red 40 through products including cereal, juice, soda and ice cream, according to a 2016 study in the journal Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A.

If you're worried about your or your family's red 40 consumption, Thomason suggests looking for brands such as Annie's, Unreal and Simple Mills. These brands "often avoid synthetic dyes in favor of natural alternatives" such as "vegetable or fruit juices like strawberry, carrot or beet juice," she notes.

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Still, Thomason stresses that "occasional consumption of foods with red 40 isn’t a major concern for most people. Instead of panicking over singular nutrients, focus on a diet rich in whole, minimally processed foods."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is red 40 banned?