Synthetic to Natural Conversion

The replacement of artificial colours has never been more topical. In the UK, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has proposed that by October 2008 the synthetic col-ours Sunset Yellow (E110), Tartrazine (E102), Carmoisine (E122), Ponceau 4R (E124), Quinoline Yellow (E104) and Allura Red (E129) will no longer be allowed in food and beverages. While this deadline will be voluntary, the FSA is also considering regulatory actions (www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2007/nov/coloursmeeting; Nov. 2007). This development will certainly influence the imminent revision of the EC Colour Directive and could, therefore, affect all food manufacturers in Europe.

The order of the day is increasingly becoming “replacement by naturals”. Consumer preferences have already changed and the image of artificial colorants is not good. As a result the pressure on manufacturers to reformulate their products so they are free from artificial colours or even free from E-numbers is growing.

Natural replacement is possible

: Natural Food Colours and Colouring Foodstuffs. Ensuring products retain the healthy image of vegetables, fruits and edible plants.

The natural replacement scheme chart can be used as a principle guide to a natural future. The wide spread of different colorants and application-specific product variants make it possible to realise individual colour ideas:

Do you want to use only natural color-ants while avoiding quality losses? Or do you want a “clean label” with no mention of “colorants” at all? Are you looking for a colorant for a special application? Our application technologists are well placed to answer all technical and legal questions - when switching to natural colours, working with an experienced service team will make success more likely.

Our customers can benefit from 60plus years of experience in developing and producing high-quality natural colorants and colouring foodstuffs.

Natural replacement scheme
	Synthetic colours	Natural colours*	Colouring foodstuffs**
Blue	Patent Blue Brilliant Blue Indigo Carmine Brilliant Black	Blue Anthocyanin
Bluish red	Carmoisine Red	Carmine Blue Carmine Enocianin Pink Antho	Black Carrot Grape Beetroot
Red	Allura Red Ponceau 4R	Carmine Black Carrot Extract Strawberry Antho	Aronia Beetroot with reduc. bluish tone Elderberry Black Carrot
Orange-red		ß-Carotene Red
Orange	Sunset Yellow FCF	Paprika Natural ß-Carotene ß-Carotene Annatto	Paprika Carrot
Yellow	Tartrazine Quinoline Yellow	Curcumin Riboflavin Natural ß-Carotene ß-Carotene Palm Carotene Lutein	Tumeric Root Carrot
Green	Green Euroblends	Copper-Chlorophyll/ -in Chlorophyll/ -in	Spinach Stinging Nettle Vertex
Brown	Brown Euroblends	Caramel	Burnt Sugar
Black	Black Euroblends	Carbon Black
White		Titanium Dioxide

* natural colours must be labelled as colour
**colouring foodstuffs are ingredients; see EU Colour Directive EC 94/36

Sensient Food Colors Europe • Central Office: Germany
Phone: +49-4152-8000-0 • Email: sfc-eu@sensient.com

Synthetic to Natural Conversion

Natural replacement is possible

Natural replacement scheme