All Episodes

January 20, 2025 17 mins

Could a simple food dye be affecting your health more than you think? Join us on Harmony Hub Health as we unravel the FDA's groundbreaking decision to revoke FD&C Red No. 3 from food and ingested drugs. This episode promises to open your eyes to the vibrant yet perilous dye that's been lurking in our everyday products. We delve into the historical journey of Red Dye No. 3, backed by scientific evidence of its carcinogenic potential and unsettling neurobehavioral effects on children. 

 Subscribe to Harmony Hub Health for insights that foster a balanced lifestyle, empowering you and those around you. 

linktr.ee/harmonyhubhealth


Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Harmony Hub Health, where my mission is
to provide comprehensive,affordable, integrative care
that addresses the root cause ofhealth issues.
At the Hub, the focus is onindividual patient journeys.
I strive to optimize health,vitality and longevity,
fostering a community where eachperson can thrive in body, mind
and spirit.

(00:21):
Well, you might have heard thatTikTok is facing a potential
ban, and while I know we allhave our favorite dance moves to
protect, it's not the only banmaking waves.
No, there's another ban I'mactually ecstatic about, and
that's the ban on red dye numberthree.
Yes, you heard that right.

(00:41):
While TikTok might be stealingyour time, red dye number three
has been quietly wreaking havocon your food and your body, and
now it's finally out of thepicture.
Sure, tiktok gives you allthose fun food videos, but I'm
here for a future with snacksthat won't make your insides
glow.
So today we're talking aboutthe ban in the healthiest

(01:03):
possible way.
So the news that came out wasthat the FDA is revoking the
authorization for the use ofFD&C Red no 3.

(01:24):
The FDA is amending its coloradditive regulation to no longer
allow this in food and ingesteddrugs, based on the Delaney
Clause of the Federal Food, drugand Cosmetic Act.
So what is the Delaney Clause?
This is a provision within theFederal Food, drug and Cosmetic
Act that was introduced in 1958.

(01:45):
It prohibits the approval ofany food additive that is found
to cause cancer in humans oranimals, even in trace amounts.
So it states that no food orcolor additive shall be deemed
safe if it is shown to inducecancer in humans or animals,
regardless of the level ofexposure.
This clause is named afterCongressman James Delaney, who

(02:08):
was very instrumental in itspassage.
It was part of an effort toensure that food safety and, you
know, to protect public health,and it reflected growing
concerns about chemicals andadditives in food.
It remains a part of US law,although its application has
been debated for many years.
I remember, years ago, themsaying this was going to happen

(02:31):
and I've just been waiting.
But as scientific methods andrisk assessments have evolved,
it is finally done.
So let's talk about whatexactly is red dye.
Number three this is known aserythroxene.
It is a synthetic food coloringderived from petroleum.
It's widely used to give foods,cosmetics and medications that

(02:51):
vibrant pink or red hue.
And I know that if you havecome to see me and you bring me
a bottle of your pretty littlesupplements and I tell you, yeah
, it's pretty, it's not good foryou and I know it's annoying,
but finally no one's going to beable to show these to me in
2027.
But more than likely, you'vealso encountered candles,

(03:12):
candies, baked goods, thosemaraschino cherries that my son
has in his Shirley temples,fruit snacks and even some
medications and supplements.
So it's been a common coloringagent in certain cosmetics and
personal care items as well.
So for decades there's beenconcerns that have been raised
about the safety of red dyenumber three.
There are studies back in the1980s and this is hysterical

(03:36):
because I tell my patients, whyis everything 40 years behind?
But yes, there are studies in1980s that show that this dye
caused cancer in lab animals,particularly thyroid tumors.
But despite those findings, itstill remained in all of these
food products.
And although it was banned incosmetics and external drugs in

(03:56):
1990 by the US Food and DrugAdministration, or FDA, we're
still finding it.
And more recently, research haslinked red dye number three to
behavioral and cognitive issuesin children Maybe that's all
that's wrong with Ezra and thatincludes hyperactivity and

(04:18):
attention deficits.
It's also been associated withallergic reactions, migraines
and skin rashes in people thatare also very sensitive.
So in 2023, california becamethe first state in the US to
pass a law banning red dyenumber three in food and
beverages, alongside otherharmful additives like

(04:38):
brominated vegetable oil andpotassium bromine.
So this groundbreakinglegislation, which is set to
take effect in 2027, was drivenby mounting evidence of the
dye's risks and growing publicawareness of the dangers.
So, while this is a good stepforward, it is worth noting that

(04:59):
red dye number three is stillpermitted at the federal level,
which leaves a lot of room fornationwide inconsistencies.
But let's take just a peek atwhat does the research say about
red dye number three, and itpaints a very concerning picture
.
Some of the key studies thatI've looked at have highlighted.
Number one carcinogenicpotential.

(05:20):
So long-term animal studieshave shown that red dye number
three causes thyroid tumors.
The mechanism appears toinvolve disruption of iodine
metabolism and that leads toabnormal thyroid growth.
Number two is theneurobehavioral effects.
The research that they'recoming out with now suggests the

(05:47):
link between synthetic dyeslike red number three and
behavioral issues in children,particularly those with ADHD.
So these effects are thought tostem from the dye's ability to
disrupt neurotransmitteractivity, just like those, you
know, neuroendocrine disruptors.
These are neurotransmitterdisruptors and then just general
toxicity.
Red dye number three now hasbeen shown to cause DNA damage
and oxidative stress, and thatcontributes to chronic health

(06:07):
conditions over time.
You know how I feel aboutoxidative stress.
Okay, and red dye number threeis commonly found in a wide
variety of products, includingfoods we eat, beverages,
cosmetics, some medications.
So I put together a list of allthe things that I could think.
I'm sure I didn't captureanything, but I'm just going to

(06:29):
read off this food list that Imade this morning while I was
drinking my coffee and try tokeep a mental tally as I'm
reading them off and let's seewhat number you get to.
Okay, maybe while I'm doing itI'm gonna make my own little
tally.
So number one is candy.
So gummies, jelly beans,licorice, hard candies like

(06:53):
lollipops and cherry flavoredcandies.
Check, check, baked goods.
So these are cakes, cookies,cupcakes and pastries with red
or pink frostings or decorations.
Check, cereals.
I came up with this.
I might have been looking at mypantry because Ezra did have
some cereals that his ah-ma gavehim at Christmas and they were

(07:15):
all red for the holidays, sobrightly colored breakfast
cereals targeted at children.
I'm not going to check thatbecause I didn't eat it, but it
is in my house.
Snack foods these are processedfruit snacks, marshmallows,
flavored popcorns those are someof the good ones.
And then jellies and gelatins.
So cherry, strawberry, gelatinjams and jellies with that

(07:38):
coloring.
I don't eat that, but I do havesome in my pantry.
Next is frozen desserts, sothat's popsicles.
Sherbets I never know if it'ssherbert or sherbet, I just
sherbet.
And artificially flavored icecreams.
I know I had a sorbet recentlybecause one of my clients told

(08:00):
me about mixing that on top ofProsecco.
I may have had a glass or two,but I don't think my sorbet had
artificial coloring.
I did check that.
Okay.
So canned fruits, so that's themaraschino cherries, fruit
cocktail mixes.
Beverages so fruit flavoredsodas, energy drinks, powder

(08:24):
drink mixes I'm pretty muchtelling you my son's diet here.
What else?
Condiments so sweet sauces likecherry flavored syrups.
I do use grenadine for EzraShirley Temple, so I am
poisoning my child, it seems.
Medications and supplements Okay, over-the-counter medications,

(08:44):
that's chewable, liquid forms ofpain relievers, antacids, cold
medicines.
I try to stay away from all ofthose, even some prescriptions,
some pills and liquid formulas,especially those that are
designed for children.
It gives them that taste thatthey'll, you know, actually take
.
I did have someone ask me if mymethylated B12 that I give in
the office has the red dye in itbecause it is red.

(09:07):
But no, that is natural.
There's no dye in my methylatedB12.
So vitamin supplements,especially those gummy vitamins
that you see on the counters atTarget and everywhere else that
are really pretty packaged, badfor you, chewables, gel capsules
.
Then we have cosmetics andpersonal care products like

(09:27):
lipsticks, lip gloss, anythingwith that vibrant pink or red
hue from blush and eyeshadow.
Hair products, so temporaryhair dyes, and some shampoos and
conditioners, toothpaste.
So there are mouthwashes thatdo contain red dye number three
and for coloring of theirmouthwash there are pet products

(09:50):
.
So not only if you may not saythat you're giving them to your
child, you might be giving it toyour pet.
These are the brightly coloredtreats or biscuits.
I did check my dogs thismorning.
But you want to definitely checkthe ingredient labels for red
number three or for erythrocein.
Sometimes it may not always sayred number three, it might say
erythrocein, fd&c, red numberthree.

(10:13):
You know, and just be vigilantwith the ingredient labels that
help you identify and void thatsynthetic dye in your daily life
.
But to me it's kind of crazythat I listed all these things
and it's like, well, how couldthis be the only one?
It's not.
It's not the only synthetic dyeright now raising red flags.
There's other dyes, such asyellow number five or what is it

(10:37):
called Tartrazine.
There's yellow number six.
There's red number 40, whichhas also been linked to health
concerns, includingcarcinogenicity, immune system
dysregulation.
So all these dyes are found inthese processed foods, beverages
, medications, and it makes themdifficult to avoid without

(11:00):
really checking out the labels.
So some tips of avoiding theseharmful synthetic dyes.
Number one is going to be, youknow, read those labels
carefully.
Look for terms like red numberthree, red number 40, yellow
number five, blue number one.
Avoid products containing thosedyes any chance you can.

(11:20):
You want to opt for productscolored with natural
alternatives, like beet juice orturmeric or spirulina or
paprika extract.
Those give nice natural color.
And then just cooking your foodat home, homemade meals and
snacks allow you to control theingredients and avoid any of
these unnecessary additives.
Eat fresh.

(11:41):
Don't eat these processed foodsanyway, and then support clean
brands.
Look for brands that arecommitted to using natural
ingredients and transparentlabeling.
So you just want to educateyourself.
Stay informed about foodadditives and their potential
effects on health.
Knowledge is power when itcomes to making healthier
choices.

(12:01):
I have heard of some of mypatients that have an app that
they scan barcode to foods tosee if it's safe.
But if it came in a box in themiddle of the grocery store,
just put it back Okay if it'ssafe.
But if it came in a box in themiddle of the grocery store,
just put it back Okay.
So the ban on red dye numberthree is a significant step
toward protecting public health,and it is just the beginning.

(12:22):
As consumers, we have the powerto demand better from the food
and beverage industry by makinginformed choices and supporting
cleaner, safer products.
So we need to continue toadvocate for a future where our
food not only tastes good but,you know, good for us.
The ban on red dye number three,or erythrocein, by the FDA does

(12:42):
mark a significant shift in howfood additives and dyes are
regulated, which could haveseveral implications for
functional medicine in thefuture.
And here are my hopes.
My hopes are that there's anincreased focus on food quality
and safety.
So functional medicinepractitioners often emphasize
the importance of whole,unprocessed foods that are free

(13:04):
from artificial additives, andthis ban on red dye number three
may further encourage patientsto adopt clean eating practices
and reduce the intake ofprocessed foods and synthetic
ingredients known to havepotential health risks.
I also hope that there is justmore attention overall to
chemical sensitivities and, asmore artificial dyes and

(13:26):
additives face scrutiny,functional medicine may place an
even greater emphasis onidentifying and addressing
sensitivities to food chemicals.
Food sensitivity testing couldbecome an essential tool to help
patients avoid harmfulsubstances like artificial dyes,
preservatives and othersynthetic chemicals that may be
linked to inflammation and theirallergies and behavioral issues

(13:50):
.
And also just the expansion ofdetox programs, because, as
synthetic food dyes andchemicals are phased out,
functional medicine may see anincreased demand for
detoxification protocols, whichI am doing one now with the Core
Restore, so it could be witheither targeted supplements,

(14:11):
liver support, any detoxifyingstrategy, because we want our
bodies to eliminate thesechemicals from your system, and
this should definitely bringlike a heightened awareness of
environmental toxins.
The ban could further fuel thegrowing interest in eliminating
environmental toxins from dailylife, so I always advocate for

(14:32):
reducing exposure to variouschemicals found in food,
cosmetics, household products,everything to align with a more
holistic approach to health andwell-being.
And the ban on red dye numberthree may lead to greater
awareness around harmful effectsof other artificial additives
and dyes, which could spark morediscussions about nutrition and

(14:53):
how certain ingredients impactlong-term health.
This could really leverage asan opportunity to educate
everybody on the potential risksof processed foods and the
benefits of choosing natural,nutrient-dense options.
So it looks like red dye numberthree is out.
Tiktok is next.
You know I might be the onlyone you you know that has never

(15:14):
had TikTok.
I have never had an account,I've never made a video, I've
never watched TikTok.
My son had it for a limitedamount of time and we got rid of
that, but I might be the onlyone.
So I don't know why everyone isso upset about it because I was
not on there, but I'm surethere'll be something to replace
it, okay, and you know, yoursnacks, though, will officially

(15:37):
be a little safer.
Tiktok may have had like endlesstrends, but who knew that the
real health trend was notputting cancer-causing chemicals
into your food, right?
If you're as excited as I amabout this red dye number three
ban, it's a sign to startgetting those chemicals out of
your system.
No one wants to be glowing fromartificial additives, so why

(16:00):
not give your body a little lovewith a little detox.
Your liver and kidneys workhard enough, without all that
extra junk.
Let's support those naturaldetox pathways.
You can book a consultationtoday and let's get your system
back to functioning like itshould.
Trust me, your body will thankyou.
And just a friendly reminderthat this podcast today is not a

(16:21):
substitute for medical advice.
Always consult with yourhealthcare provider before
making any changes to yourwellness routine.
I am a nurse practitioner, butI may not be your nurse
practitioner yet.
Now go ahead, ditch the dietand detox like a pro.
Thank you for tuning intoHarmony Hub Health.
If you found this episodehelpful, don't forget to

(16:41):
subscribe and share it withothers.
Until next time, stay informedand stay healthy.
Thank you.
Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Intentionally Disturbing

Intentionally Disturbing

Join me on this podcast as I navigate the murky waters of human behavior, current events, and personal anecdotes through in-depth interviews with incredible people—all served with a generous helping of sarcasm and satire. After years as a forensic and clinical psychologist, I offer a unique interview style and a low tolerance for bullshit, quickly steering conversations toward depth and darkness. I honor the seriousness while also appreciating wit. I’m your guide through the twisted labyrinth of the human psyche, armed with dark humor and biting wit.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.