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Preparing for regulatory change
ViskoTeepak, in partnership with Nippi Collagen, has developed a new line of colored snack stick casings that do not contain synthetic dyes, including Red Dye #3. This dye, long used in mahogany and red snack stick casings, is scheduled to be banned in the U.S. by January 2027.
New colors—no compromise
The new solutions are designed to help processors stay compliant and future-ready while maintaining the visual quality consumers expect. Three Red Dye #3–free color options are now available for the snack stick market:
- ABA – New standard mahogany
- SSB – Mahogany with a brown tint (produced upon request)
- ABB – Mahogany with a deeper red tint (produced upon request)
Solving the shelf-life color challenge
Color fade during shelf life—especially on areas exposed to light—has long been a challenge in the snack stick category. To address this, accelerated shelf-life testing was conducted by a third-party lab, simulating up to nine months of retail exposure.
The results showed that the new colors maintained their appearance under light exposure, while traditional control samples showed visible fading. This supports a more consistent, attractive product presentation at retail.
Ready for production
These new color solutions require no production changes and are designed to support smooth transitions for processors. Because final appearance depends on individual recipes and cooking programs, customers are encouraged to request samples to evaluate performance under their own conditions.
Looking ahead
With these Red Dye #3–free solutions, ViskoTeepak is ready to support snack stick producers with compliant, stable, and future-ready casing colors—protecting both product appearance and long-term market access.