The truth about red dye might surprise you. While I 'm thrilled that the FDA has finally banned red food dye I c a n 't help but wonder why it took DECADES to act on something w e 've known for years i t 's a carcinogen Studies linking it to cancer have been available since the 1990s yet it stayed on our shelves in our k i d s ' snacks and in so many safe foods Recent studies indicate that approximately 1 in 2 individuals will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime So why did it take 30 years to ban this carcinogen from our food This is a stark reminder just because something is on the shelf d o e s n 't mean i t 's safe