News

Colouring Foodstuffs Threaten Natural Colour Dominance

12 Nov 2015

John George, Ingredients Analyst at Euromonitor International See John George Speak at Day 0 ‘Natural Colour and Colouring Foods 2015’ at Fi Europe -http://www.figlobal.com/fieurope/conference/day0

Untitled Document

In 2012, the global natural colours market surpassed 600,000 tonnes for the first time as the shift away from synthetic and towards natural continued. While this growth is forecast to continue, aided by increased uptake in developing markets, going forward, it is likely that colouring foodstuffs, an alternative that is receiving increased recognition, will become more prominent. Colouring foodstuffs, which include vegetable extracts and fruit juices, provide consumers with a greater understanding of the source of product colouring, which can, in turn, provide a healthier or more naturalimage. With interest in natural and clean labels showing no signs of abating, the pull of colouringfoodstuffs could become difficult for manufacturers to ignore.
Additives and ingredients
A key advantage for colouring foodstuffs is that they are considered food ingredients rather than food additives. Consequently, colouring foodstuffs, unlike natural colours, do not carry E numbers in Europe. This is significant, as many consumers associate E numbers with unhealthy or harmful products. Additionally, the European Commission sought to further clarify the difference between colouringfoodstuffs and colouring additives, like natural colours, by publishing a set of guidelines, which came into effect in January 2014. These guidelines stated that colouring foodstuffs are ingredients derived from fruits, vegetables or herbs, which retain their nutritive and aromatic properties, rather than resulting in selective extraction of colour.
Suppliers look to capitalise
The current trends towards natural foods and clean labels are particularly favourable to suppliers ofcolouring foodstuffs. Many consumers are looking for shorter labels, with simpler ingredients, which they are familiar with. Colouring foodstuffs are able to provide this, while also providing the colouringproperties that make the product attractive to the consumer in the first place. It is no surprise that several major colour houses have diversified into colouring foodstuffs to cash in on their appeal. For example, in 2014 Chr Hansen announced the upgrade of its Italian centre for colouring foodstuffs, and this is likely to be a precursor to further investment in its FruitMax range.
Drawbacks remain for colouring foodstuffs
For natural colours, the rise of colouring foodstuffs could spell trouble, as the attractiveness of the new option has the potential to cause a decline in natural colour volumes. However, this is unlikely, since, likenatural colours before them, colouring foodstuffs still have to overcome issues relating to stability and consistency in certain applications. Consequently, in certain scenarios, it is simply not possible to use acolouring foodstuff and manufacturers may have to settle for natural colours. Additionally, for many manufacturers, natural colours are likely to remain sufficient for compliance with the natural trend, and with greater technical knowledge being available for natural colours, colouring foodstuffs may be seen as unnecessary.
Potential Volume of Colouring Foodstuffs


Source: Euromonitor International
Colouring foodstuffs will keep growing as the demand for natural ingredients continues to increase. However, it is likely that the growth in colouring foodstuffs will come from products that are health orientated and specifically positioned as clean label, with mainstream products unlikely to see a major adoption of the new colour ingredients. The impact on natural colours is therefore likely to be a reduction in the level of future growth rather than the more alarming outcome of a fall in natural colour volumes due to manufacturers switching to colouring foodstuffs.

John George, Ingredients Analyst at Euromonitor International


Find out more:
http://blog.euromonitor.com/category/ingredients
http://go.euromonitor.com/Passport-DemoRequest.html

Colouring Foodstuffs Threaten Natural Colour Dominance

Related news

Sustainability meets innovation at Fi Europe 2023's Sustainability Ingredients Zone

Sustainability meets innovation at Fi Europe 2023's Sustainability Ingredients Zone

9 Jan 2024

Fi Europe’s Sustainable Ingredients Zone showcases ingredients forging a path toward a greener future. Three innovators are redefining what sustainability within the food and beverage industry means, with upcycled products, regenerative agriculture, an...

Read more 
Unleashing the power of plants at Fi Europe’s New Product Zone

Unleashing the power of plants at Fi Europe’s New Product Zone

5 Jan 2024

In the diverse landscape of plant-based innovation, Fi Europe 2023's New Product Zone spotlighted ten plant-based ingredients, tailored to meet the rising demand for sustainable and delicious options.

Read more 
Meet the innovative ingredients showcased at Fi Europe’s New Product Zone

Meet the innovative ingredients showcased at Fi Europe’s New Product Zone

3 Jan 2024

The Food Ingredients category at Fi Europe’s New Product Zone featured 19 distinct and innovative products. From fermented delights to sustainable proteins, these ingredients are ready to make their mark in the market.

Read more 
Fi Europe’s New Product Zone elevates the nutrition of everyday indulgences

Fi Europe’s New Product Zone elevates the nutrition of everyday indulgences

22 Dec 2023

At Fi Europe 2023's New Product Zone, eight health ingredients, each offering an enhanced nutritional profile of various products, were on display. These ingredients address the evolving needs of the food and beverage industry and cater to consumers se...

Read more 
Fi Europe’s New Product Zone explores fresh possibilities with five natural ingredients

Fi Europe’s New Product Zone explores fresh possibilities with five natural ingredients

20 Dec 2023

Fi Europe 2023's New Product Zone unveils five natural ingredients, each catering to the growing demand for clean products and embodying ethical and sustainable choices for today's conscious consumers.

Read more 
Water-conscious consumers, upcycled food, and tech-driven sustainability: Highlights from Fi Europe, part 2

Water-conscious consumers, upcycled food, and tech-driven sustainability: Highlights from Fi Europe, part 2

14 Dec 2023

With climate change becoming a tangible reality, consumers’ environmental concerns are changing. At Fi Europe, market analysts revealed how people are now interested in everyday issues like water shortages and tech-driven solutions such as GM drought-r...

Read more 
The food industry’s single-use packaging problem

The food industry’s single-use packaging problem

12 Dec 2023

The food industry’s reliance on single-use packaging is a sustainability “sticking point” with viable alternatives not widely available – but new EU rules mean food businesses will remain responsible for the collection and disposal of the packaging the...

Read more 
Snack trends, ingredient claims, and plant-based perceptions: Highlights from Fi Europe 2023, part 1

Snack trends, ingredient claims, and plant-based perceptions: Highlights from Fi Europe 2023, part 1

7 Dec 2023

Value-led snacking, sustainability storytelling, and the importance of having a ‘star ingredient’: we asked consumer analysts and market experts at Fi Europe about the trends and innovations that are shaping the food industry.

Read more 
HELM and Allied Biotech partnership make possible natural crystal-clear colours

HELM and Allied Biotech partnership make possible natural crystal-clear colours

7 Nov 2023

As one of the leading Carotenoid producers, Allied Biotech has successfully launched the clear colour product lines. The new products are mainly used in transparent applications. Clear colours are ideal candidates for replacement of the artificial colo...

Read more 
Impact taste in your recipe substantially - through Chilled-Fresh ingredients

Impact taste in your recipe substantially - through Chilled-Fresh ingredients

29 Sep 2023

Bresc is the European pioneer of Chilled-Fresh ingredients for culinary professionals that has its origins in French Cuisine. While focusing on best raw materials choice, Bresc’s recipes are conceived to inspire product development and to add-up in tas...

Read more