Price Volatility and Consumer Demands Continue to Drive Carmine Replacement, Claims GNT

31 Mar 2016 --- Food and beverage manufacturers using carmine to color their products see themselves confronted with growing issues, claims coloring foods supplier GNT. Recent price increases and a high price volatility cause severe planning insecurity. Additionally, carmine does not fit with the growing consumer demand for clear label products.

As the colorant is made from the inedible cochineal insect and its production requires chemical processing, it opposes consumers’ expectations towards true naturalness.

According to a comprehensive study, conducted by market research institute TNS and the GNT Group, leading global provider of Coloring Foods, consumers have a clear conception of what “natural colors” are, expecting them to originate from edible raw materials such as fruit and vegetables. Of course, carmine is unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans.

“Today, there is no need for food and beverage manufacturers to struggle with these issues. They can easily replace carmine with Coloring Foods, a high-performing, natural color solution”, says Dr. Hendrik Hoeck, Managing Director of the GNT Group. “It is a common misperception that with true natural color solutions, there are issues concerning the color match and stability. As pioneer and innovation leader in the field, with more than 37 years of experience, we can provide Coloring Foods in a sheer endless spectrum of shades that match those obtained with carmine and offer excellent stability.” Through the complete vertical integration of its supply chain, GNT can ensure the best possible price stability and all-year-round availability of its products. This gives long-term planning security to manufacturers.

“With Coloring Foods, producers have the right solution at hand to develop future-proof food and drinks. Our products fully match consumer expectations towards true naturalness and thus help secure the favour of increasingly nutrition-conscious consumers worldwide”, says Hoeck. Coloring Foods are concentrates made exclusively from fruit, vegetables and edible plants. In contrast to additive colorants, like carmine, their production involves only processing with water and gentle physical methods such as pressing, chopping and filtering. The concentrates can be applied to nearly every product and are ideal for beverages, confectionery, dairy, ice cream, food supplements and fruit preparations. Moreover, they are suitable for all dietary requirements.

When switching from colorants to Coloring Foods, manufacturers can rely on comprehensive support from GNT’s application experts. They support their clients throughout the entire product development process, including tailored advice on the most suitable Coloring Food, processing and application considerations as well as verification of shelf life and stability.

GNT’s Innovation Officer, Bettina Blau recently told FoodIngredientsFirst: “Carmine prices are rising again since some time. I really think that the benefit of using coloring foods is not only due to price issues, but that you are getting a natural product. For different types of applications we have a wide red portfolio.”