“Minerals and jewels” inspire GNT's turmeric and spirulina bluish-green shades

04 Nov 2022 --- Created for bakery mixes and seasonings, GNT has extended its range of green EXBERRY Coloring Foods made from turmeric and spirulina.

EXBERRY Shade Bright Green – Powder is pegged as delivering bright, bluish-green shades in dry and powdered applications and is created from edible, plant-based raw materials using only traditional physical processing methods. 

As a result, it is considered a food ingredient rather than an additive in the EU and many other parts of the world.

Jill Janssen, Market Development Specialist GNT Group, speaks with FoodIngredientsFirst about the new powder extension and how it opens up further opportunities for manufacturers to create vibrant green products with clean ingredient lists.

“More and more manufacturers want to showcase their products’ hero ingredients and what they can deliver to consumers. Therefore, we’re seeing more shades that are inspired by landscapes, minerals and jewels, which showcase this powerful synthesis between science and nature,” she says.

“Blue and green are becoming increasingly important because consumers see those shades as a natural functional ingredient, not as something unknown, strange or even artificial.”

“Green, in particular, is associated with many fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices and signifies healthiness and freshness,” Janssen explains. 

Vibrant greens
Because natural green raw materials do not exist, GNT needs a yellow and a blue component. The company’s blues are made from spirulina, and turmeric is the yellow component.

“It’s well-known among consumers and – like spirulina – is well-liked as a healthy ingredient. Spirulina and turmeric are also approved as coloring ingredients for use in food and beverages in most countries throughout the world,” continues Janssen.

EXBERRY Shade Bright Green – Powder is pH-independent and approved for use in most countries worldwide. As turmeric is naturally sensitive to light, opaque or non-transparent packaging is recommended for optimal performance, notes GNT.

“Spirulina and turmeric are also approved as coloring ingredients for use in food and beverages in most countries throughout the world,” explains Janssen. Janssen lays out expectations for this innovation and how it plays into GNT’s broader strategy of innovating with natural colors.

“There is huge global demand for cost-effective vibrant green blends. We already offer a wide range of plant-based green color concentrates in various formats, including liquid-based products. The addition of EXBERRY Shade Bright Green – Powder provides further options for manufacturers working with dry and powdered applications. It delivers vibrant bluish-green shades and is pH-independent and water-dispersible,” she says.

“One of our major strengths is our vertically integrated supply chain and investment in long-term stockholding. This allows us to guarantee supplies all year round, even during events such as the global pandemic.” 

Bakery and seasoning applications

Janssen explained how this new powder solution can be applied to bakery mixes and seasonings and how it can help manufacturers overcome challenges,

“EXBERRY powders are spray-dried from liquid raw materials. They’re designed for cases where moisture content needs to be limited, which can include bakery applications and seasonings and dry mixes such as cakes with flavors such as pistachio. Some manufacturers also use process equipment that’s designed for handling powders rather than liquids,” she adds. 

“Powders offer some additional benefits. They can also be stored at ambient temperatures, and they can be shipped at a lower cost than liquids.” 

By Gaynor Selby