Consumers are increasingly looking for food and beverages that not only provide nourishment but also promote energy, positivity, and a sense of well-being. This trend is evident in the rising popularity of warm colours, mainly sunny yellow and vibrant orange, which are associated with happiness, luxury, and indulgence.
Why Use Natural Yellow Colour Extracts?
Yellow is commonly associated with products traditionally made using eggs or butter. With the surge in popularity of vegan alternatives, products such as margarine, batters, cakes, and ice cream have evolved to incorporate natural yellow hues to convey a sense of quality, luxury, and indulgence. In dishes such as curry, chicken soups, cheese sauces, and pickles, the natural yellow colors enhance the visual appeal and complement the taste, contributing to customer satisfaction.
Where Do Natural Colour Extracts Come From?
Derived from fruits, vegetables, and other natural sources, natural colours are popular due to their simple and clean labels. Consumers want to recognize and understand what they eat or drink, therefore they trust products containing ingredients with a long tradition of culinary use. Natural yellow to orange colour extracts come from safflower, turmeric, carrot, yellow paprika, and annatto, each offering unique hues and influenced by geographic and agricultural factors.
Carotenoids are a key player in this colour space, found in carrots and yellow paprika but also derived from fermentation. Beta Carotenes come in many different formats including water soluble liquids and powders and oil soluble liquids. These all fall under the E number 160 with further classification according to type and source derived from.
Considerations for Using Natural Colours
When using Natural colours, solubility is a critical consideration. Colorants are inherently soluble in either oil or water, but expert formulation can modify their solubility to enhance usability and ensure more stable, long-lasting colors. Natracol Bright Yellow WDL (Water Dispersible Liquid) has been encapsulated to ensure light stability for displayed products such as confectionery, beverage, ice cream and tablet coatings.
Several factors must be evaluated during formulation: solubility, hue, transparency, packaging, interactions with the food matrix, ingredient labelling, and shelf-life conditions such as exposure to heat, light and oxygen. Addressing these considerations ensures a high-quality product that meets consumer expectations for appearance and durability.
Curcumin: A Key Player in the Food Industry
Curcumin has emerged as a significant natural yellow colorant in the food industry in 2024 for several reasons:
- Rising consumer demand for clean-label and natural products: Consumers are increasingly conscious of the ingredients in their food and prefer natural alternatives over artificial additives. This has driven the demand for natural colorants like curcumin, which is derived from the turmeric plant.
- Visual appeal and vibrant colours: Curcumin imparts a vibrant yellow-orange hue to food products, enhancing their visual appeal, which is critical in influencing consumer purchasing decisions.
- Versatility across food applications: Curcumin can be used as a colorant in a wide range of food products, including beverages, bakery items, meat alternatives, vegan cheeses, confectionary and pharma applications.
- Regulatory approvals and safety: Curcumin has gained regulatory approvals in various regions, recognizing its safety for use as a natural food colorant, further driving its adoption in the food industry.
Introducing Natracol Bright Yellow WDL by Roha
Aligned with natural trends, Roha has launched Natracol Bright Yellow WDL, a curcumin-based colour solution offering bright, stable yellow hues suitable for a wide range of applications. This innovative product is water-dispersible and exhibits high stability to heat, light, and pH, making it ideal for dairy products like ice creams, milkshakes, and yogurts. As well as into coatings and tableting applications.
As a leading service provider and Roha's strategic partner, contact DKSH Performance Materials NZ Ltd for any inquiries about Natracol Bright Yellow WDL or advice on other Natural Colours:
Rachael Pickmere
Commercial Manager
DKSH Performance Materials, NZ
Email: [email protected]
