Are Cosmic Brownies Being Banned in the United States?

Recently, social media posts have claimed that “Cosmic Brownies” snacks are being banned in the United States, causing surprise and disappointment among online users.

Social Media Posts

The claim that Cosmic Brownies are being banned has circulated widely across social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and X, over the past few months.

Source | Archive

Source | Archive

Source | Archive

Fact-Check

New FDA regulation: New FDA regulation: The FDA is not banning Cosmic Brownies but rather one of its ingredients—Red Dye No. 3, which gives color to the sprinkles on top. This artificial coloring will be prohibited starting January 15, 2027, due to research linking it to potential health concerns, including hyperactivity in children and cancer in laboratory animals. See the details here.

We found no mention or caution about Cosmic Brownies in the FDA’s website database. The FDA has not announced plans to remove Cosmic Brownies from the market. The only relevant regulatory action is the upcoming ban on Red Dye No. 3, which affects one ingredient but not the product itself.

No Discontinuing Notice from Parent Company: McKee Foods, Little Debbie’s parent company, has not issued any notice about discontinuing Cosmic Brownies, and no reputable sources have reported such news. We are contacting McKee Foods for further clarification and will update this article once we receive their response.

Origin of the Rumor: The viral claim gained traction due to a mix of misinformation and satire. A parody X account, impersonating Robert F. Kennedy Jr., posted in December 2024 that Cosmic Brownies would be banned on January 20, 2025, under a fictitious “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.

Archive

The post, which was satirical in nature, was shared widely on social media. Subsequently, discussions on platforms like TikTok and other social networks connected the FDA’s Red Dye No. 3 regulation to claims about Cosmic Brownies being banned, leading to confusion about the product’s future.

Ingredients Banning: This situation reflects a broader trend in food regulation. California set a precedent by banning Red Dye No. 3 and other additives in 2023 (read here), which influenced the FDA’s decision. However, neither the California law nor the FDA ruling explicitly bans specific products, only the problematic ingredients. As a result, snack manufacturers are reformulating their recipes rather than discontinuing their products.

Are Cosmic Brownies Safe to Eat Now?: As of March, 2025, Cosmic Brownies remain safe to eat under current FDA regulations. The Red Dye No. 3 they contain is still permitted until the 2027 ban takes effect, and the FDA has not issued any immediate recalls or safety warnings for products using it. However, consumers concerned about artificial dyes, due to studies linking Red Dye No. 3 to potential health risks, might choose to limit intake now, though no official guidance deems them unsafe before the deadline.

What Are the Risks of Red Dye No. 3?: Red Dye No. 3 (Erythrosine) has been controversial for many years due to health concerns. The FDA’s decision to ban it is based on several studies: a 1990 study found it caused thyroid tumors in male rats at high doses, leading to its ban in cosmetics but not food. A 2012 National Institutes of Health review found links between synthetic food dyes, including Red No. 3, and hyperactivity in children (Source). Consumer Reports pushed for the ban in 2023, arguing that while there’s no clear evidence of cancer in humans, the animal studies and behavioral effects were concerning enough to warrant action. While Cosmic Brownies contain only a small amount of this dye in their sprinkles, these health concerns led to the decision to remove it from food products.

Conclusion

The claim that Cosmic Brownies are being banned is misleading. While the FDA’s ban on Red Dye No. 3 will affect the product’s formulation, McKee Foods has not announced any plans to discontinue the product, nor has the FDA issued any directive to remove it from the market.