Is fdc red #3 vegan?

FD&C Red #3, also known as erythrosine, is a synthetic dye used as a red food coloring. It is manufactured chemically through the iodination of fluorescein, a compound derived from petrochemical sources such as resorcinol and phthalic anhydride. Food manufacturers use this additive in items such as maraschino cherries, cake decorating gels, candies, popsicles, commercial baked goods, and oral pharmaceutical capsules.

This ingredient is considered vegan because its origin is entirely synthetic and petrochemical-based. No animal tissues, secretions, or animal-derived substances are used in its production, nor are any animal byproducts involved in synthesizing the dye. Some red colorants, such as carmine or cochineal extract, are harvested from scale insects, but FD&C Red #3 is an unrelated artificial compound. Because it contains no animal ingredients and relies strictly on chemical synthesis, it meets the criteria for vegan labeling.