For decades, FD&C Red No. 3 has added its vivid cherry-red hue to candies and cupcakes—but its risks have been debated just as long.

A colorful ingredient you may find in your pantry or medicine cabinet is now banned by the Food and Drug Administration. Erythrosine, which is more likely to show up as FD&C Red No. 3 or Red 3 on an ingredients label,

While color and other aesthetics enhance the enjoyment of foods and drinks, natural color sources — like beet juice, red cabbage and radishes — are risk-free alternatives, Dilley said. So are anthocyanins, pigments naturally found in berries that give them their red, purple and blue hues, Ventrelle added.