The state of California banned the Red No. 3 dye and three other food additives in 2023, which gave manufacturers until 2027 to change their recipes. Then in 2024, California once again banned six more artificial dyes -- Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 -- from being served in public schools.

The Food and Drug Administration said it was taking the action because studies found that the dye, also known as erythrosine, caused cancer in lab rats.

Do you still have candy hearts from Valentine’s Day that say “I love you”? Odds are, red dye No. 3 was used in the manufacturing process. The FDA has officially banned it. KYW medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough looks at what this means to all of us.