InkProducts Inc. is pleased to announce that all our edible inks are now formulated without FD&C Red No. 3, ahead of the FDA's January 15, 2027 deadline. This important change reflects our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality edible inks while keeping up with evolving food safety regulations.

However, these new requirements also bring changes to manufacturing costs. We want our customers to understand why edible ink prices may increase and what goes into producing compliant, reliable edible inks.

Why Is the FDA Eliminating Red No. 3?

In January 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked authorization for FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs following a petition citing the Delaney Clause, which prohibits certain color additives shown to cause cancer in animals.

Food manufacturers have until January 15, 2027, to reformulate their products. This regulation also affects edible inks used to print images and decorations on cakes, cookies, frosting sheets, and other food products.

At InkProducts, we have already completed the transition to Red No. 3-free edible ink formulations.

Why Are Edible Ink Manufacturing Costs Increasing?

Replacing Red No. 3 is not as simple as swapping one food coloring for another. Edible ink is a specialized product that must meet both food ingredient requirements and the technical demands of inkjet printing.

Several factors contribute to higher production costs:

1. More Expensive Colorants

Alternative food-grade colorants can cost more than previously used ingredients. Finding suitable replacements that produce vibrant, consistent colors while meeting applicable FDA requirements can increase raw material expenses.

2. Research and Reformulation

Every ink formulation must maintain the correct viscosity, surface tension, color balance, and flow characteristics. Changing a colorant requires additional research, formulation adjustments, and testing to maintain reliable printing performance.

3. Quality Control and Testing

New formulations require careful evaluation for color consistency, stability, and printer compatibility. These additional manufacturing and testing procedures increase production expenses.

4. Supplier and Ingredient Costs

Manufacturers must source suitable ingredients from reliable suppliers. Changes in ingredient availability, supplier pricing, and purchasing requirements can further increase production costs.

5. Manufacturing Adjustments

Introducing new formulations may require additional production procedures, updated documentation, and changes to inventory management to ensure consistency between manufacturing batches.

What Does This Mean for Our Customers?

Although these changes may result in higher edible ink prices, our commitment to quality remains unchanged.

Our goal is to continue providing vibrant colors, consistent printing performance, and dependable edible inks for compatible Canon, Epson, EcoTank, and other supported edible printing systems.

We understand that pricing is important, especially for bakeries, cake decorators, and small businesses. We will continue working to keep our products competitively priced while maintaining our manufacturing standards.

Our Commitment to Quality

For over 35 years, InkProducts has focused on developing and manufacturing specialized ink formulations.

Our edible inks are now Red No. 3-free, and we are proud to have made this transition ahead of the federal deadline.

Thank you for your continued trust and support as we adapt to these important regulatory changes.

InkProducts Inc. — American-Made Inks Since 1991

For additional information, visit the FDA's official FD&C Red No. 3 information page.