D.D. Williamson Presents a Guide for Replacing Synthetic Food Color Additives

Naturally derived colorants do not have the same color intensity as synthetics, and some of these are less economical on a dosage basis; however, technological advances have reduced this performance gap.

23/01/08 D.D. Williamson is presenting a naturally derived color blend solution guide for processors to replace the use of synthetic (certified) food color additives in foods and beverages.

“More and more food and beverage processors are now formulating with natural alternatives to synthetic (certified) food color additives in response to changing consumer preferences,” comments Campbell Barnum, Global Vice President of Branding & Market Development. “Both food product labeling regulations and today’s mass media have increased consumer awareness of food ingredients.”

Various published studies have caused many consumers to be concerned about the consumption of synthetic color additives. “Due to food safety concerns over the years, governments in the United States and Europe have reduced the number of approved synthetic color additives,” adds Jennifer Guild, Global Food Science & Regulatory Manager.

Naturally derived colorants do not have the same color intensity as synthetics, and some of these are less economical on a dosage basis; however, technological advances have reduced this performance gap. Improved blending of naturally derived colorants to maximize attributes helps to improve stability compared to using a straight (single) natural colorant.

D.D. Williamson defines naturally derived color additives as those, which are (a) derived from agricultural, biological, or mineral sources, (b) extracted with a simple process, and (c) known to have long histories of safe use. Selecting the best performing natural colorant blend to replace synthetics requires a thorough understanding of the specific application. Key performance features that differentiate one naturally derived colorant from another include stability in heat, acid, and/or light. The D.D. Williamson naturally derived color blend solution guide can be found on the company’s website www.naturalcolors.com in the News & Press section.