As a food safety expert with a background in chemistry and public health, I can provide you with an informed perspective on why certain additives are banned or restricted in the food industry.

Red dye number 2, also known as amaranth, was a synthetic color additive used in the food industry. It was banned for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1976. The ban was primarily due to concerns about its safety. Studies conducted on animals had suggested a potential link between the dye and cancer, although the results were not definitive. Given the nature of the findings, the FDA decided to err on the side of caution and removed it from the list of approved additives.

It's important to note that the regulation of additives varies by country. While Red dye number 2 is banned in the United States, it may still be used in other countries with different regulatory standards.

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Blame Red Dye No. 2. In the 1970s, Soviet scientists claimed a link between the dye �� used in everything from sausage casings and ice cream to makeup �� and cancer, and U.S. tests proved some correlation as well. Though it was never linked to any deaths or illnesses, the substance was banned from U.S. shelves in 1976.read more >>