W.A. Bean & Sons, Bangor’s longtime red snapper maker, has changed its secret recipe, replacing artificial Red Dye No. 3 with a natural coloring made from cochineal insects, according to Fox 23 Bangor.
The company, in business since 1860, began testing natural alternatives three years ago, eventually settling on carmine, a coloring used in foods such as yogurt and candy.
The change comes as the FDA moves to ban Red Dye No. 3 over cancer concerns in laboratory animals.
Despite higher production costs, Vice President Sean Smith says shoppers won’t see a price increase. The company hopes the updated recipe will help keep the Maine favorite around for generations to come.
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