Misconception about FDA and Cosmic Brownies clarified

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently enforced a ban on red dye No. 3, a common ingredient in various food and beverage products consumed by Americans, including candies and medications that are ingested.

Some individuals have erroneously claimed online that the beloved Cosmic Brownies, known for their chocolatey goodness topped with colorful sprinkles, are also affected by the ban following the FDA’s announcement on January 15.

“Cosmic Brownies are being banned by the FDA and I literally just found out about this … I knew the FDA was banning things that had red dye 3 in it, but I didn’t know that red dye 3 was in the Cosmic Brownies,” one TikToker says. 

“The FDA banned red dye No.3. It apparently, is used as an ingredient in cosmic brownies. I think just the ingredient and not the food itself is banned,” one X post questioned.

Is the FDA banning Cosmic Brownies?

No, the FDA is not banning Cosmic Brownies. 

“The FDA is not banning Cosmic Brownies,” Mike Gloekler, McKee Foods Communications & Public Relations manager, told VERIFY. But the snack food does contain red dye No. 3, and Gloekler said the company is working with suppliers to comply with the FDA’s ban on the chemical. 

McKee Foods, which owns Little Debbie, distributes the popular chocolate snack. 

When the FDA announced the ban on red dye No. 3, it gave manufacturers time to reformulate their products; food manufacturers have until Jan. 15, 2027 and drug manufacturers have until Jan. 18, 2028. Gloekler said McKee Foods is targeting a compliance date of January 2026, a year ahead of the FDA deadline.

In a search for “Cosmic Brownies,” VERIFY found no mention of the product on the FDA website, nor is it mentioned in a list of recalled products. When VERIFY reached out to the FDA for comment, the agency stated that it has paused non-emergency communications and is only responding to matters critical to preserving health or addressing emergencies. President Donald Trump issued the order for some federal agencies to freeze communications.

Some social media posts falsely suggest Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who will appear at a Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 29 as a nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for banning Cosmic Brownies.

The rumor could have been started by a parody account with the display name “Robert F. Kennedy Jr – Health Secretary Parody,” which is one of the earliest mentions of the rumor VERIFY found online and it was later amplified by the red dye ban. Kennedy has not stated any intent to ban Cosmic Brownies, even if confirmed as HHS Secretary. 

Neither Kennedy’s verified X account, Instagram or Facebook pages make mention of Cosmic Brownies.