Color additives are nothing new. The FDA classifies color additives as any substance that gives color to a food, drug, cosmetic, or human body and can include both synthetic materials and elements derived from natural sources.
All animals respond to color, and humans are no exception. We expect certain foods and flavors to match specific colors. Consumers are also expecting to know more about where those colors come from - either naturally occurring or synthetic.
It’s no surprise that as consumers clamor for more information about the origins of their food, they’re hoping to find that it’s more natural and organic than artificial.
The 2018 Food and Health Survey performed by the International Food Information Council Foundation found customers do not want artificial ingredients and are willing to pay more to avoid them. According to the survey, "Despite the importance of familiarity, 7 in 10 consumers would be willing to give up a familiar favorite product for one that did not contain artificial ingredients. Of those who would, 4 in 10 would be willing to pay 50% more and 1 in 5 would pay 100% more."
Rising health consciousness and the inclination toward environment-friendly products drive the demand for naturally grown food products and ingredients across the globe. Customer pressure means big business for the natural food colors market. The natural food colors market is predicted to grow to $3.2 billion by 2027, at a compound annual growth rate of 8.4% from 2019 to 2027.
It seems choosing natural food colors is the way of the future. While an important factor, bringing products to market involves much more than choosing the right natural colors. Innovation demands more efficiency and speed at every stage of new product development. TraceGains can help by providing a single location for all supply chain information and documentation, so teams can work smarter. Learn more about our New Product Development solutions here.