Red dye no. 3 is a synthetic color additive made from petroleum, used to give food and drinks a bright red color.

Local Dietician Kayla Aluise said we find it in a lot of our favorite things to eat.

"It's a lot of the things that we would think like the sports drinks or the sodas you know your code red, or Sweedish Fish, you know different types of products like that," Aluise said. "But it's in things that we don't realize too like bacon bits, or even like meats and bacon, stuff like that just to give it a bright color," she said.

U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye from the nation’s food supply, however, Aluise said it's something that should have been banned a lot sooner.

"The state of California did ban it a while ago even, it's banned in cosmetics about 25 years ago so it's been, it should've come around a long time ago," Aluise said.

Manufacturers using it in food have until January 2027 to reformulate their products.

In the meantime, Aluise has some tips to protect yourself and your loved ones.

"Go through your pantries, go through your refrigerator, freezer and look for those things," Aluise said. "You might not be forced to consume them but why should we consume them if they are being banned," she said.

Aluise also stressed the importance of taking the extra time to read food labels while shopping.