BANGOR, Maine (WMTW) – A staple food item in Maine will face some changes in the near future due to a new federal policy.
U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye, called Red 3, from the nation’s food supply nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.
The executive director of Defend Our Health, Emily Carey Perez De Alejo, said this ban is a step in the right direction.
“I, as a parent, really appreciate when there is a product phase-out where something is unsafe and it’s removed from the shelves,” she said. “I’m looking forward to not have Red 3 dye in birthday cakes and medicines, and all sorts of other things that you wouldn’t expect it to be in.”
“As a registered dietitian and someone deeply committed to empowering women to reclaim their health, I’m beyond thrilled to see the FDA finally removing red dye #3 from our food supply,” registered dietitian Kristen Morrell said in a statement. “This synthetic dye has been linked to increased cancer risks, behavioral issues in kids, potential hormone disruption and other health concerns for decades, especially in children. It’s been banned in cosmetics for years, so why it remained in our food was baffling.
“This is a huge win for public health and a step toward cleaner, safer food for everyone. Our bodies deserve better than synthetic chemicals that disrupt our well-being. I hope this sparks a bigger movement toward removing other harmful additives and prioritizing real, nourishing foods. Let’s celebrate this progress and keep the momentum going!”
W.A. Bean & Sons in Bangor is the only wholesale hot dog company in Maine. The company has been in operation since 1860, producing and selling “red snapper” hot dogs using the artificial dye Red 3 since 1938.
W.A. Bean & Sons sales director Sean Smith said the company had already been working with different before the ban to come up with a new formula for red snappers without Red 3 dye.
“We didn’t wait for the government to force our hands in this,” Smith said. “We have not only been focusing on our red snapper but the rest of our products, as well. We do make a no-color hot dog that is completely dye free and we have a full line of all-natural sausages, breakfast sausages, and deli meats.”
The FDA ban on Red 3 in food products officially goes into effect in January 2027. Smith said W.A. Bean & Sons plans to phase Red 3 out of their products by the end of 2025. The company is assuring Maine red snapper fans that the flavor will remain the same.
“We’ve been around since 1860. We’ve survived a few world wars, a couple of worldwide economic depressions, a few president change overs, a lot of turmoil. We’ve survived and persevered through. The goal is to keep going and we’re not going to go anywhere,” Smith said.
Copyright 2025 WABI. All rights reserved.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
