(Patriot.Buzz) – The Food Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is considering banning Red Dye No. 3, a common ingredient in countless beloved snacks and candies.
This potential ban threatens to strip away consumer choice and further regulate what Americans can eat, all based on questionable science and fear-mongering.
The FDA, which already controls over 75% of the U.S. food supply, is now setting its sights on artificial food dyes, particularly Red No. 3.
This petroleum-derived dye has been used for decades to give a vibrant red color to many popular foods and drinks.
However, the agency is now facing pressure from so-called “public health” groups and considering a ban that could affect nearly 3,000 food products.
The agency claimed to be acting on health concerns, but their own data showed that approved artificial food dyes are safe when used according to guidelines. This move seems more about control than genuine safety concerns.
The timing of this proposed ban is particularly galling. As Democrat congressman Frank Pallone Jr., (D-NJ) pointed out:
“With the holiday season in full swing where sweet treats are abundant, it is frightening that this chemical remains hidden in these foods that we and our children are eating.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for health secretary, has claimed food dyes cause cancer, but has not said what he would do if confirmed to the Cabinet post about artificial food dyes in American food.
“There are some departments such as the nutrition departments in the FDA that have to go, that are not doing their job, they are not protecting our kids,” Kennedy said.
RFK Jr. a vocal critic of government overreach, has rightly called out the FDA’s nutrition departments for failing to protect our children.
Nevertheless, the real failure here is not in allowing safe food additives, but in the FDA’s continuous expansion of its regulatory power at the expense of consumer freedom.
The agency’s lack of a formal post-market review process for substances already in the food supply is being used as an excuse for this potential ban.
Instead of addressing this gap in their procedures, they are choosing to punish consumers and manufacturers by potentially removing a widely-used ingredient from the market.
What is more concerning is that this ban could be just the beginning. With states like California, Illinois, and New York introducing legislation to ban certain artificial dyes, Americans are seeing a domino effect of government interference in their food choices.
Jerold Mande, a former senior adviser for the FDA and former deputy undersecretary for food safety in the Agriculture Department said, “There is something called the precautionary principle, which is basically the thought that it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
The “precautionary principle” cited by some experts is nothing more than an excuse for excessive regulation.
As the FDA reviews and opens public comments until January 2025, the push for banning Red No. 3 reflects a larger desire for change—one that prioritizes health over hazardous additives.
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