IFT First 2025: California Natural Color on replacing traditional synthetic ingredients
24 Jul 2025 | California Natural Color
We spoke with Dana Osborne, marketing manager for California Natural Color, about how legislative changes in the US are driving demand for natural food dyes that can replace traditional synthetic ingredients and provide consumers with healthier products.
OK, we're live at IFT first.
I'm joined by Dana Osborne from California Natural Color.
Hi there.
Hi, can you start by telling us what new natural color solutions or technologies you're featuring this year?
So we're featuring our full portfolio of natural color, from, you know, our, our grape, colors to red radish, sweet potato.
You know, a lot of our anthocyanin-based shades, but also kind of the full rainbow spectrum, including, green and blue, from Spirulina, and then one of our latest, products, butterfly pea, we're showcasing a lot of synthetic, alternatives, since all of the regulations kind of going on, in the industry.
And how are you responding to the rising demand for clean label and sustainable solutions?
So we're working very closely with our suppliers for raw materials and working closely with customers.
We've been receiving a lot of opportunity as the industry continues to kind of change.
It seems like on a weekly basis.
We've seen the uptick in demand of manufacturers looking to switch from synthetic to natural colors and really just kind of focusing on solutions for red 3, Red 40 replacements in those formulations, and there are regulatory changes at the moment.
How is that impacting the rise in demand from manufacturers?
So with the regulatory changes we've seen the rise in demand for natural colors, you know, over the last couple of months, new colors are being approved.
Previously, butterfly pee was approved for a limited list of applications with the new administration.
They've approved it for an extended use to.
Other formulations like cereals and and snacks and whatnot, and, and recently another glue was approved for use as.
And so it seems like with this new administration they are kind of fast tracking the approval of of new natural color sources.
And how are you innovating to increase the stability and performance of your products?
So, you know, with our crystal color technology, you know, it, it helps in a delivery format that really is stable, you know, it's, it's shelf stable for up to 5 years, it solubilizes.
Better than a spray dried powder, and we are kind of working internally on new innovation with our R&D team to kind of address additional formulation challenges for these manufacturers.
I can't say too much, but there are, some new products kind of coming in the pipeline in the future.
Daniel, thank you.
Yeah, thank you so much.
