Green 3 (Fast Green)

Last reviewed October 18, 2026 · Evidence strength: Very limited · How we grade evidence

In plain words: Green 3 is a man-made green dye that very few US foods use. It's not on Europe's list of approved food colors. There's very little research on it, so we can't say much either way. It's part of the US phase-out plan, and it's easy to avoid.

Also listed on labels as: FD&C Green No. 3, Fast Green FCF, E143

What is it, and why is it in food?

Green 3, also called fast green, is a synthetic dye that gives a blue-green color. In our data it shows up mostly in some ice creams and frozen desserts, snack cakes and a few candies.

What does the science say?

• What's known: Very little. We found no research on Green 3 by itself in our review. The broader research on artificial dyes and children's behavior mostly tested other colors.¹
• Why it's in the phase-out anyway: The US plan covers all remaining petroleum-based dyes, not just the best-studied ones.²

What do regulators say?

• In April 2025, the US Department of Health and Human Services and FDA announced a plan to work with companies to remove petroleum-based dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2 and Green 3) from the food supply by the end of 2027.² That phase-out is voluntary. As of October 2026 these dyes are still legal in US food.
• FDA revoked Orange B (effective September 8, 2026), and the remaining synthetic dyes are on FDA's list of chemicals under review.³
• Green 3 (E143) is not on the EU's list of approved food colors.⁴

Who should be careful?

• Nobody needs to worry about a single food with Green 3. If you're avoiding dyes for a sensitive child, add it to the list.

How common is it in US foods?

In our check of USDA's Branded Foods database, 183 of 439,966 US packaged foods with an ingredient list name Green 3 (well under 1%, or about 1 in 2,404).⁵ It shows up most often in: ice cream & frozen yogurt (52); cakes, cupcakes, snack cakes (36); candy (18); baking decorations & dessert toppings (15); other drinks (9). That makes it the rarest of the US-certified food dyes in our data. These are label records companies sent to USDA, mostly in 2021 to 2023, so some products have changed since. Counts come from a text match of ingredient lists and are approximate.

Swaps and tips for families

• Mint and pistachio ice cream come in uncolored versions that taste the same.
• Spirulina plus turmeric, or matcha, make natural greens for baking.

Beyond the plate: related non-food exposures

Green 3 is also used in some cosmetics and personal-care products. Check labels if you're avoiding dyes.

Frequently asked questions

Is Green 3 banned in Europe?

It's not on the EU list of permitted food colors, so it can't be used in food there.

Is Green 3 dangerous?

There's too little research to say. It's rarely used, part of the US voluntary phase-out, and easy to avoid.

What foods contain Green 3?

In our US data, mostly ice cream and frozen desserts, snack cakes and some candy, and only a couple hundred products in total.

Related guides

• Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue)
• Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)
• Food dyes and colors

Sources

Every source below was checked against PubMed, the publisher or the official page by our research team in October 2026.

1. Meta-analysis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, restriction diet, and synthetic food color additives. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2012. PubMed 22176942 · doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2011.10.015
2. HHS/FDA press release, April 22 2025. Link
3. FDA constituent update (Orange B). Link
4. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, Annex V (colours that require the warning "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children"). Official Journal of the European Union (consolidated text), 2008. Link
5. FoodData Central, Branded Foods dataset (release 2026-04-30). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 2026. Link
6. Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet (London, England), 2007. PubMed 17825405 · doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61306-3
7. Potential impacts of synthetic food dyes on activity and attention in children: a review of the human and animal evidence (California OEHHA). Environ Health, 2022. PubMed 35484553 · doi:10.1186/s12940-022-00849-9

This guide is for general education. It is not medical advice and does not replace advice from your doctor, pediatrician, allergist or registered dietitian. If you think you or your child reacted to a food, talk to a health professional. Research changes; we review these pages when new evidence or rules come out. Last reviewed October 18, 2026. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].