Red 3 Has Four Months Left in U.S. Food: What to Check
FDA's Red 3 revocation hits food on Jan 15, 2027. Where erythrosine still shows up (candy, frosting, cherries), what the label says, and why older stock may linger.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Blog
Ingredient education for real labels
Practical guides and ingredient reviews that help you understand food and personal-care labels before you scan them with Aurascan.
Cluster: Food Regulation News
New York's Food Chemical Disclosure Act Awaits Hochul
New York passed a bill banning Red 3, potassium bromate and propylparaben and making GRAS safety data public. Hochul has until Dec 31. What it would change on labels.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Texas' 44-Ingredient Warning Label Is Paused: What's Next
Texas SB 25 would put a warning on foods with any of 44 ingredients (dyes, BHT, bromate) from Jan 1, 2027. A federal court paused it. Who it covers, what to watch.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
California's Non-Ultraprocessed Seal: Newsom Decides by Sept 30
California passed AB 2244 to create a voluntary 'Non-Ultraprocessed Certified' seal. What would qualify, what would not, and what happens after Newsom's Sept 30 deadline.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
The Dye Swap Has a Supply Problem: Natural Colors
Most natural food colors are grown and imported, take 12-24 months to validate, and could jump in price as brands drop synthetic dyes by 2027. What that means for labels.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
FDA Dye Tracker Now Says End of 2027: Who's Done
The FDA's dye pledge tracker (Sept 10, 2026) now targets end of 2027 for Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and three more. Which brands report Complete, which are still working.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
General Mills Cereals Are Dye-Free: What's Left to Do
General Mills says every U.S. cereal is now free of certified dyes (Aug 27, 2026), yet the FDA tracker still lists it 'In progress.' What remains and what to look for.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
EFSA Clears the Aspartame-Acesulfame Salt (E 962)
EFSA's Sept 10, 2026 re-evaluation found no safety concern for the aspartame-acesulfame salt (E 962) and kept both ADIs. What it means on US labels.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
EWG Checked 12 Fast-Food Menus: Dyes on All but Two
EWG's September 2026 review of 12 fast-food menus found synthetic dyes everywhere except Chipotle and Subway, mostly in drinks. What it means and what to check.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
In-N-Out Is on the FDA Dye Tracker: What Changed
FDA's dye pledge tracker (updated Sept 10, 2026) lists In-N-Out as done: Red 40 out of the strawberry shake and pink lemonade. What replaced it, what's next.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
EFSA's First Additive Monitoring Report: Tartrazine Exposure
EFSA's first pilot EU monitoring report measured real dietary exposure to tartrazine (E102), Ponceau 4R and Green S across 22 countries. What it found for shoppers.
9/11/2026 · Chris Carrillo
US to Define 'Ultra-Processed Food': What the Proposal Means
HHS and USDA sent the first federal definition of ultra-processed food to OMB on August 10, 2026. What is known, what it could change, and what it will not do.
9/11/2026 · Chris Carrillo
FDA Revokes Orange B: The Sausage-Casing Dye Nobody Used
The FDA's July 23, 2026 order removing Orange B from the color additive rules took effect September 8, 2026. What changed, why, and what shoppers will notice.
9/11/2026 · Chris Carrillo
FDA Reassesses ADA Dough Conditioner: What It Means for Bread
The FDA launched a post-market reassessment of azodicarbonamide (ADA) on May 12, 2026. What ADA is, why the EU bans it, and how to spot it on bread labels.
9/10/2026 · Chris Carrillo
New Xylitol Heart Study: What It Does and Does Not Show
A 17,710-person cohort study presented at ESC Congress 2026 links high blood xylitol to more heart events. What it shows, what it cannot, and what to do.
9/10/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Sucralose Re-Evaluated: What EFSA's 2026 Safety Review Found
EFSA's February 2026 re-evaluation kept sucralose's ADI at 15 mg/kg, found no genotoxicity concern, and would not confirm safety for high-heat fine bakery use.
9/10/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Which Food Additives Are Banned in Which US State (2026 Tracker)
State-by-state list of enacted US food additive laws: California, West Virginia, Texas, Arizona, Utah, Louisiana, Virginia, Tennessee. What is banned, where, and when.
9/10/2026 · Chris Carrillo
The Natural Food Colors the FDA Approved to Replace Dyes
Galdieria blue, butterfly pea flower extract, calcium phosphate and gardenia blue: what the FDA approved in 2025, where each can be used, and what changes on labels.
9/9/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Glycerol in Slush Drinks: EFSA Sets a Limit, UK Says No Under 7
EFSA's 2026 opinion set an acute reference dose for glycerol (E 422) that one slush drink exceeds; the UK now advises none for children under 7. What parents should know.
9/9/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Potassium Bromate Bans: What States Have Done and When
California bans potassium bromate from January 1, 2027 and New York has passed its own ban. What is banned where, where the FDA stands, and how to spot bromated flour.
9/9/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Cluster: Diet Soda
The 5 Sodas People Scan Most: Sweeteners, Acids and Colors
Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta Orange, Fanta Pineapple and Fresca, label by label: which sweetener, acid, dye and preservative each one uses and what regulators say.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Mountain Dew Zero Sugar vs Diet: Caffeine and Sweeteners
Mountain Dew Zero Sugar has more caffeine than Diet Mountain Dew; both use aspartame, Ace-K and sucralose plus Yellow 5. Ingredients, PKU warning and taste compared.
9/11/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Dr Pepper Zero Sugar vs Diet Dr Pepper: Sweeteners and Caffeine
Diet Dr Pepper uses aspartame alone; Dr Pepper Zero Sugar blends aspartame with acesulfame potassium. Caffeine, ingredients, PKU warning and taste compared.
9/10/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Pepsi Zero Sugar vs Diet Pepsi: Ingredients and Caffeine
Pepsi Zero Sugar vs Diet Pepsi compared: both use aspartame plus Ace-K, caffeine 38 vs 35 mg per can, the 2023 recipe change, acids, preservatives, and which to pick.
9/9/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Cluster: Product Spotlights
Is the KIND Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Bar Clean? Scanned
We scanned every ingredient in the KIND Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate bar: three sweeteners, palm kernel oil, soy isolate, chicory fiber. What each one does.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Is Red Bull Clean? Every Ingredient in the Can, Scanned
Carbonated water, 27 g of sugar, 80 mg of caffeine, synthetic taurine, B vitamins, flavors and colors: what each does, what regulators say, and the scan.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Diet Coke, Scanned: What Every Ingredient Actually Does
Carbonated water, caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate, natural flavors, citric acid: what each does, what regulators say, and the scan.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Is Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean Clean? Five Ingredients, Scanned
Cream, skim milk, cane sugar, egg yolks, vanilla bean. What each does, why a short label still means real fat and sugar, and what the scan shows.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Cluster: Snacks
6 Snacks People Scan Most, and What Their Labels Say
Doritos, Pringles Hot Honey, Lay's Baked, Stacy's pita chips, SkinnyPop and SkinnyDipped almonds: what each real label says, with a scan card for every one.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Cluster: Protein Bars
Barebells vs KIND: Which Protein Bar Has the Cleaner Label?
Barebells vs KIND from the real labels: dairy isolates vs nuts, maltitol and sucralose vs sugar and honey, polydextrose vs chicory fiber. Guess the cleaner bar.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Cluster: Energy Drinks
Red Bull vs Celsius: Caffeine, Sweeteners, and Ingredients
Red Bull vs Celsius from the real labels: 80 mg vs 200 mg caffeine, sugar vs sucralose, taurine, B vitamins and botanicals. Guess the cleaner can, then see the scan.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Cluster: Ingredient Safety
Is Soy Lecithin Safe? Uses, Allergy Facts, and Label Names
Learn what soy lecithin is, why it is added to chocolate and protein bars, its FDA and EFSA safety status, and how it affects people with soy allergies.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Is Taurine Safe? Energy Drinks, EFSA Limits, and Labels
Learn what taurine is, why it appears in energy drinks, how it is manufactured, its regulatory safety status under EFSA and FDA, and who should limit intake.
9/13/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Cluster: Sweeteners
Added Sugar Has Dozens of Label Names: The Ones to Know
The names added sugar hides under on labels, from corn syrup to fruit juice concentrate, how 'sugar splitting' works, and what the FDA Added Sugars line counts.
9/11/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Allulose vs Erythritol: Which Sugar Substitute Is Better?
Allulose bakes like sugar; erythritol is cheaper and EU-approved. Calories, blood sugar, digestion, the 2023 heart study, and label names compared.
9/11/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Is Maltodextrin Bad for You? Blood Sugar, Gluten, and Labels
Maltodextrin is in sports drinks, chips and sugar packets. What it does to blood sugar, whether wheat-derived versions are gluten-free, the FDA status, and label names.
9/11/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Xylitol vs Erythritol: Which Sugar Alcohol Is Better for You?
Xylitol vs erythritol on calories, blood sugar, dental benefits, digestive tolerance, the 2023-2026 heart studies, dog toxicity and label names.
9/10/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Is Saccharin (E954) Safe? Cancer History, ADI, and Labels
Learn what saccharin (E954) is, why 1970s cancer warnings were removed, current FDA and EFSA safety rules, label names, and gut health facts.
9/10/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Aspartame vs Sucralose: Which Sweetener Is Safer for You?
Aspartame vs sucralose compared: sweetness, heat stability, PKU warning, FDA and EFSA daily limits, the 2023 IARC classification, gut evidence, and which to use where.
9/9/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Is High Fructose Corn Syrup Worse Than Sugar? Facts and Labels
Understand what high fructose corn syrup is, how HFCS-42 and HFCS-55 compare to table sugar, health impacts on the liver, FDA regulations, and label aliases.
9/9/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Cluster: Preservatives
Is Propylene Glycol (E1520) Safe? Food Uses, Cats, and Labels
Propylene glycol carries flavors and keeps food moist. FDA and EFSA limits, why it is not antifreeze, the Fireball recall, cat toxicity, and label names.
9/11/2026 · Chris Carrillo
What Is Xanthan Gum? Uses, Safety, Gut Health, and Labels
Learn what xanthan gum is, why it is added to food and cosmetics, how it affects gut health, key safety regulations, and who should avoid it.
9/11/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Is BHT (E321) Safe? Uses, Limits, FDA Review, and Labels
BHT (E321) keeps cereal and chips from going rancid. FDA and EFSA limits, the IARC Group 3 rating, the 2026 FDA reassessment, and how to spot it on labels.
9/11/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Are Sulfites Safe? Wine, Dried Fruit, Asthma, and Labels
Sulfites (E220-E228) preserve wine, dried fruit and shrimp. Who reacts, why the FDA banned them on raw produce in 1986, the 10 ppm label rule, and EFSA's 2022 verdict.
9/10/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Is TBHQ (E319) Safe? Uses, Limits, and Label Names
TBHQ (E319) keeps frying oils and snacks from going rancid. What the FDA limit and EFSA ADI mean, what the immune-cell studies show, and how to spot it on labels.
9/10/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Is Polysorbate 80 (E433) Safe? Uses, Gut Health, and Labels
Learn what polysorbate 80 (E433) is, why it is added to foods and supplements, what the latest research says about gut health, and how to spot it on labels.
9/9/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Is Sodium Nitrite Safe? Cured Meat, Nitrosamines, and Labels
Learn what sodium nitrite is, why it is added to cured meats, its health risks, the celery powder label loophole, and how to read food labels accurately.
9/9/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Is MSG (Monosodium Glutamate, E621) Safe? Uses and Labels
Learn what monosodium glutamate (MSG, E621) is, why it is added to foods, how your gut metabolizes it, and how FDA and EFSA evaluate its safety.
9/9/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Cluster: Food Dyes
Is Caramel Color (E150) Safe? 4-MEI, Classes, and Labels
Learn what caramel color (E150a-d) is, how the four classes are made, the science behind 4-MEI safety, regulatory standards, and how to spot it on labels.
9/10/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Cluster: Scanner App Comparisons
Best Yuka Alternatives in 2026: 8 Food Scanner Apps Compared
Eight Yuka alternatives compared: Open Food Facts, Fooducate, EWG Healthy Living, Fig, Aurascan, Bobby Approved, MyFitnessPal and ScanEat, and who each suits.
9/9/2026 · Chris Carrillo
Label-reading intel, weekly.
What changed on food labels this week — bans, recalls, and new guides.