02/07/2026
🌱 FDA Opens New Opportunities for Natural Food Colors
The FDA just announced several major updates that will accelerate the shift from petroleum-based artificial colorants to natural alternatives in the U.S. food industry.
✨ 1. “No Artificial Colors” Claim — Now Easier
Brands are now allowed to claim “No Artificial Colors” as long as their products contain no petroleum-based colorants.
Previously, this claim was only allowed when the product contained no colorants at all, even natural ones.
✨ 2. New Approvals — Beetroot Red & Expanded Use of Spirulina Extract
The FDA officially approved the natural colorant Beetroot Red for use in multiple food categories.
At the same time, Spirulina Extract has been granted broader application approvals.
This brings the total number of FDA-approved natural colorants to six, with more expected in the near future.
✨ 3. FDA Issues an Open Letter to Color Manufacturers
The FDA is urging manufacturers to:
✔ adopt approved natural colorants
✔ ensure ingredient safety & purity
✔ strengthen controls on contaminants (heavy metals, solvent residues, microbes)
These changes mark a major step toward clean-label, sustainable food coloring solutions in the U.S. market.
