Erythrosine

Erythrosine (Tetraiodofluorescein) is a cherry-pink coal-based fluorone food dye. Its maximum absorbance is at 530 nm in an aqueous solution, and it is subject to photodegradation.

Classification
It is listed under the following number systems:
 * FD&C Red No. 3
 * E number E127 (Food Red 14)
 * Color Index no. 45430 (Acid Red 51)
 * Indian Standards No. 1697

Uses
It is used as a food dye, in printing inks, as a biological stain, a dental plaque disclosing agent and a radiopaque medium. Although Red #3 has been highly implicated as a carcinogen, it is commonly used in sweets and foods marketed to children such as candies, popsicles, cake frosting, and cake-decorating gel. Diamond Foods uses Red #3 to dye pecan shells red in its Blue Diamond line of mixed nuts for cosmetic reasons. It is also used in strawberry Slim-Fast and its generic counterpart. McCormick uses it as well in their "Salad Toppins." Because of the well-known hazards of Red #3, Red #40 is much more commonly used by most food manufacturers in USA. Though in most of Europe and the rest of the world Red #3 is preferred over Red #40.