INGREDIENT INNOVATIONS 

Coloring

within

natural lines

Choosing colors that appeal to consumer interest in natural may pay off

By Jeff Gelski

Published April 2010 in Food Business News magazine; page 40

... caramel color supplier, Louisville, Ky-based D.D. Williamson, offers naturally derived food color additives in such forms as annatto extract, caramel and grape skin extract.  The company defines naturally derived color additives as those that are derived from agricultural, biological or mineral sources; produced with a simple process; and have histories of safe use.

    According to the Food and Drug Administration, "natural color" may be interpreted erroneously to mean the color is a naturally occurring constituent in the food. The F.D.A. thus would object to "natural color" appearing on an ingredient label. D.D. Williamson gives the advice that a declaration on the ingredient statement may read "color added," or "colored with (name of color additive) color."

   "Naturally-derived color additives may achieve a "cleaner" and more consumer-friendly ingredient statement than, for example. Blue 1," D.D. Williamson said.