Congressman Frank Pallone is adding his voice to a growing chorus of federal leaders calling on the FDA to ban red dye number three.

It's a synthetic dye used in all sorts of foods, but it's also a known carcinogen when tested on lab animals.

That's been banned from use in topical drugs and cosmetics.

For more than 30 years.

The issue came to a head during a U.S. Senate hearing this week, when the deputy commissioner of the FDA said the agency will make a decision in the coming weeks.

On whether to ban the additive from foods.

Years after public health advocates publicly petitioned the government to remove it.

Congressman Frank Pallone joins me now for the latest.

Congressman Pallone, good to see you.

I'm wondering because you have railed against, chemicals in the cosmetic industry.

That haven't been detected or hadn't been removed in a timely fashion for years.

Why are you now motivated to speak up about this, specifically, this red dye three?

Well, because there's no question that this red dye, number three, is a carcinogen.

In other words, it causes cancer and particularly is dangerous for children.

In fact, it has been banned, in cosmetic products for a number of years.

And because that makes no sense, you know, why would you ban something in cosmetics and then allow people to literally eat it or ingest the same thing?

And it's very dangerous.

I mean, we see that that's studies have shown, particularly with kids, that it causes inattentive ness, also restlessness, learning difficulties.

There's no reason to have this.

It should simply be banned.

And that's why I'm asking FDA to do that as quickly as possible.

But why now?

I mean, we've seen a lot of this, you know, in the ether, especially because of folks like RFK Jr who have, certainly made the food industry and taking it on part of his platform, both while he was initially running in the presidential election.

I mean, do you feel like there might be an opportunity here for some common ground if he does, in fact, get his post, that the president elect has nominated him for, when it comes to the health industry to work together on this, is that one reason why maybe we're seeing this argument resurface?

Well, it's not my motivation, but I do agree with you that he may be, supportive.

And, look, the food industry only does this because they like the bright red color, because they know it appeals to people.

Right?

Why, Congressman, do you believe that they have not responded to this petition from the center for science from 2022 because they think that this just makes their products more salable, and I'm sure it does, particularly to kids, because of the bright red color, like, for example, ketchup, right.

If you if you if ketchup look brown, people probably wouldn't find it as attractive as, ketchup.

That's bright red.

I think that's the kind of a perfect example.

But I mean, again, I can't stress enough we don't allow this in cosmetics.

You know, we it's it's a known, carcinogen for animals, but yet we're letting people ingest it.

That makes no sense.

Are there steps that you believe Congress could take to help usher this along?

I mean, we know that California has already banned it.

Europe doesn't allow it.

Is a state by state approach the way to go here, or what should Congress be doing?

Well, that's happening because, the FDA has enacted.

But frankly, Brianna, the FDA has the authority to just ban this, if we have to go to Congress and have a ban, it's going to be much it take a lot longer and, much more protracted debate.

The easiest thing is for the FDA to do it themselves.

They have the authority.

And to have each state, you know, I mean, imagine how long that will take for 50 states to have to ban it, and some may not.

It really should be done nationally.

Let me ask you real quick before you go.

Are there other harmful additives that are on your radar you believe the FDA should review and possibly ban in light of this?

Well, I'm sure there are, you know, and it's certainly something that the FDA should be taking a hard, look at.

I've always worried over the years about, you know, different products.

In cosmetics and food.

You know, pesticides, for example, has always been a major concern for me.

PCBs now is a major concern.

So, yeah, I mean, this has got to be we have to be vigilant about all of these, dangerous additives that can be added in various ways to food and other products.

Congressman Frank Pallone, thanks so much for your time.

Thank you.

Brianna.