UAE closely monitoring food colourants as US bans Red Dye No. 3

Authorities in the UAE are closely monitoring food products, with a particular focus on additives and colourants.

This comes following a recent decision by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban Red Dye No. 3 in food and ingested drugs.

The FDA has given food companies a two-year deadline, and drug makers a three-year deadline to reformulate their products. 

The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, is continuously updating technical specifications and regulations based on scientific principles to safeguard consumer health and safety.

The MOCCAE said that the UAE has strict regulations in place for colour additives, with safety limits based on scientific assessments and international standards.

The country also conducts thorough inspections and testing of imported food products to ensure they meet these standards and are safe for public consumption.

#MOCCAEUAE, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and relevant regulatory authorities, is implementing measures to ensure the safety of food products, including additives and colourants used in the food industry. These efforts involve continuously… pic.twitter.com/zBCCoksDky

— ‎وزارة التغير المناخي والبيئة (@MoCCaEUAE) January 23, 2025