The key trend for the global natural colors industry this week is "Accelerated Replacement." The U.S. FDA initiated procedures for a solvent ban, PepsiCo's Gatorade announced a firm timeline for removing artificial colors, and China's industry leader, Chenguang Bio, disclosed substantive progress on its synthetic biology route.
Part 1: Regulatory Storms: FDA Solvent Ban in Motion & New EFSA Guidelines
1. USA: FDA Moves to Ban Three High-Risk Solvents (Updated Apr 27)
The FDA officially accepted a petition to remove the authorization of three solvents—methylene chloride, trichloroethylene, and 1,2-dichloroethane—in the extraction of annatto, paprika, and curcumin. The reason cited is that industry surveys show these processes have been permanently discontinued. This action will force relevant exporters to thoroughly audit their supply chains for solvent residue risks.
2. EU: Galdieria Algae Gets EFSA's Green Light
The positive safety assessment opinion issued by EFSA in March for the blue pigment derived from Galdieria sulphuraria (a thermophilic red alga) entered its implementation phase this week. Suppliers like Givaudan are accelerating the commercial rollout of this pigment in Europe, aiming to fill the gap for natural blue colors.
3. China: Public Comment Period Ends for GB 2760 Amendment
The public comment period for the first amendment to GB 2760-2024 (National Food Safety Standard for Uses of Food Additives) concluded this week. The revision focuses on closing a loophole allowing dehydroacetic acid via flavoring carry-over and reclassifying some flavoring agents. This is expected to drive the synergistic application of natural preservatives and natural colors.
Part 2: Corporate Moves: PepsiCo's "Clean Label" Revolution
Gatorade Officially Announces Phase-Out of Artificial Colors
On April 16, PepsiCo announced that starting in Fall 2026, Gatorade's core series (including Thirst Quencher and Zero lines) will gradually replace artificial colors with pigments derived from fruits and vegetables. This provides a concrete implementation timeline for a previous commitment, signaling a full shift towards natural coloring for a major sports drink brand.
Part 3: Technology Frontiers: Synthetic Biology & Fermentation Pigments
1. Chenguang Bio: Breakthrough in Fermented Lycopene Route
During an institutional research briefing on April 25, Chenguang Biotech Group disclosed that its lycopene bio-fermentation project has completed fermentation broth preparation trials and passed interim validation. This is the first officially confirmed substantive progress by a leading Chinese company on the synthetic biology route, aiming to replace synthetic reds like Allura Red AC.
2. Phytolon & Michroma: Accelerating Commercialization of Fermented Colors
Phytolon: Its yeast-fermented betalain (beet red) pigment has received FDA approval and officially launched commercially on March 23, boasting nearly triple the efficiency of traditional extraction.
Michroma: Its fungal fermentation platform has entered pilot-scale amplification and is advancing towards mass production in partnership with CJ CheilJedang.
Part 4: Market Data: The Natural Trend is Irreversible
Global Scale: The global natural colors market is projected to reach $2.7 billion in 2026, with a CAGR of approximately 5.7%-8.8%.
China Market: China's food colors market was valued at around ¥6.8 billion in 2025, with the share of natural colors continuously increasing. Functional benefits (e.g., antioxidant properties) are becoming a core growth driver.
Recommendation: If you are an exporter, immediately check if your supply chain still uses the three solvents mentioned by the FDA. If you are a brand, monitor the commercial launch progress of novel natural colors like Galdieria blue and fermented betalain.
