Across the Asia Pacific region, 49% of consumers say they like the food they eat to have bright and intense colors.[1]
Synthetic dyes were historically used to deliver those vibrant shades in food and drink. However, manufacturers all around the world have been rapidly transitioning to natural alternatives.
Why? Because colors made from fruits, vegetables and plants tick every box:
- A full spectrum of bright shades
- Widespread regulatory compliance
- Consumer-friendly label declarations
With EXBERRY® by GNT, switching to plant-based colors is easier than you think. Backed by almost 50 years of experience, our expert support helps product developers achieve vibrant, stable, and compliant results with confidence.
Here we look at the key considerations when making the move to natural coloring solutions.
1. Find the right raw materials
Plant-based colors rely on the natural pigments in their raw materials. They can deliver shades as vibrant as synthetic dyes in many applications, but they require careful selection and formulation for optimal results.
Depending on the type of pigment, plant-based color performance can be influenced by factors including pH, heat, light exposure, and fat content.
A black carrot concentrate, for example, will deliver a bright red shade at low-pH levels but will become blue and unstable in neutral and alkaline products. A turmeric concentrate, meanwhile, delivers vibrant yellows but is sensitive to light exposure.
Our specialists work closely with you to identify the ideal EXBERRY® colors for your product. Whether you’re aiming to replicate an existing artificial color or explore new visual directions, we provide solutions that are perfectly tailored to your project requirements.
2. Verify color performance
For a product to be successful, it needs to look good throughout the shelf life. Food and drink can change appearance during the shelf life due to a range of factors including:
- Light exposure
- Heat exposure
- Ingredient interactions
To preserve brand reputation, it’s important to ensure food and drink maintains the expected visual appeal from production to consumption.
That’s why we provide thorough stability tests for our customers. We offer real-time and accelerated testing methods based on a realistic product matrix, realistic storage conditions, and realistic packaging.
Our extensive experience enables us to offer expert advice on any interactions and parameters that could impact on stability. Should it be required, we can then help to optimize recipes to minimize any changes throughout the product’s lifecycle.
3. Ensure regulatory compliance
Navigating global color regulations can be complex. It is important to confirm that your chosen natural colors comply with food safety and labeling regulations in your target markets.
Our regulatory experts provide clear, up-to-date guidance to help you meet local requirements and label expectations with confidence and transparency.
We also offer detailed specifications for all EXBERRY® products. These include FSSC 22000 certification, which ensures we effectively manage our food safety responsibilities, and IFS Food, which recognizes quality and food safety management systems.
4. Identify reliable supplies
Plant-based color suppliers need to maintain sufficient quantities of high-quality fruit, vegetables, and plants to meet their customers’ demand.
GNT has established a strong and resilient global supply chain that supports:
- Reliable supplies all year round
- Full traceability
- Consistent quality
The majority of the raw materials used to produce EXBERRY® concentrates are carefully grown and harvested by farmers working on long-term contracts.
Our experts also work with our farmers to implement agricultural practices that meet our stringent sustainability standards, helping us meet customer demand responsibly and reliably.
GNT recently secured an EcoVadis Platinum medal for our sustainability performance, with a score that ranks us in the top 1% in the food industry. Our sustainability work has marketing advantages for our customers too, with Product Environmental Footprint data available for the vast majority of EXBERRY® colors.
Switching is easy with EXBERRY®
GNT is a global leader in plant-based colors. Our EXBERRY® portfolio can deliver a vast spectrum of vibrant shades in almost any food and beverage application.
We offer a full customer support service, giving you the benefit of almost 50 years of application expertise. We have dedicated facilities for precise application and replication and offer customized color solutions tailored to specific needs.
Natural ingredients are on the rise. If you’re looking to futureproof your colors, GNT is your perfect partner.
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[1]FMCG Gurus ‘Flavor, Color, Texture in Asia-Pacific’ (April 2025)
The above article is
contributed by Miguel Bielders,
Marketing Manager APAC,
GNT Singapore
