Ask Lemmy

I can't find any sources saying Red 40 has been banned. You're probably confusing it with the recent Red 3 ban by the FDA?

Speaking of the FDA Red 3 ban, this decision was motivated by the Delaney Clause, not by any scientific evidence showing harm to humans. The FDA's own studies found it safe for human consumption, yet the aforementioned outdated legislation gives them a legal obligation to deem said ingredients unsafe. source:

Studies showed that male rats exposed to very high levels of Red #3 developed thyroid tumors. Here's the crucial context: this occurred through a hormone mechanism specific to male rats that doesn't exist in humans. The FDA's own analysis shows a 210-fold safety margin between typical human exposure (0.25 mg/kg body weight per day) and levels causing effects in rats (35.8 mg/kg per day).

Even more telling: studies in other animals - including female rats, mice, gerbils, and dogs - showed no cancer effects. Human studies have consistently failed to show evidence of harm at normal exposure levels.

Some additional context you might find useful.

For the same reasons, Red 40 causing cancer in mice in really high roses doesn't imply a causation of harm to humans