Biden's FDA takes last-minute action on food dye, nicotine

On Wednesday, the FDA banned red dye No. 3 in foods and proposed nicotine limits on tobacco products.

Log In    Subscribe Health   FDA bans red dye No. 3 in foods, decades after additive found to cause cancer in rats By Lizzy Lawrence and Sarah Todd Adobe The Food and Drug Administration banned the use of red dye No. 3 in food and ingested drugs on Wednesday, more than 30 years after the additive was found to cause cancer in rats.    Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump's pick for secretary of Health and Human Services, has blasted the FDA for failing to take swift action against potentially harmful additives. He's not alone in that criticism; public health experts have been baffled by the agency's slow pace. The FDA's ban comes right before Donald Trump takes office, when he and Kennedy could take action and fulfill their campaign promise to crack down on additives.  READ MORE Be the first to know Get instant notifications for the topics and reporters you choose with STAT+ Email Alerts. More on the FDA FDA proposes nicotine limits on tobacco products to make them less addictive By Sarah Todd and Lizzy Lawrence How the FDA's new nutrition labels could prod the food industry to get healthier By Sarah Todd Former Trump FDA, CMS heads lay out how his return could reshape health policy By Jonathan Wosen Federal watchdog raises some concerns about the FDA's accelerated approval program By Lizzy Lawrence Don't miss out on another STAT Investigation Unlock the world of health and medicine with a subscription to STAT+ Learn more STAT, 1 Exchange Place, Boston, MA ©2025, All Rights Reserved. I no longer wish to receive STAT emails Update Newsletter Preferences • Contact Us • Advertise with Us