A glossy ruby-red lollipop standing on a scattering of dark red color crystals, on a white background, with the California Natural Color logo

California Natural Color to Introduce a Beet-Based Red Food Color in Crystal Form for Candy, Dairy and Plant-Based Foods

Natural food color supplier California Natural Color will introduce Pure Red Beet, a red color made from beets in its crystal format, at Fi Europe in Frankfurt on Nov. 17 to 19. The company says it is aimed at dairy, confectionery and plant-based products.

California Natural Color, a Fresno, California, supplier of natural food colors, will introduce a red food color made from beets at the Food ingredients Europe (Fi Europe) trade show in Frankfurt, Germany, on Nov. 17 to 19. The color, called Pure Red Beet, is aimed at dairy, confectionery and plant-based products, the company said, as reported by Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery on Nov. 13.

TLDR

  • Pure Red Beet comes in the company’s proprietary crystal format. The company says its colors come from fruit, vegetables and other plant-based sources.
  • The company says it works in formulas from low to high acidity and offers color stability and high color concentration. These are the company’s claims.
  • U.S. food makers are moving off synthetic dyes ahead of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Jan. 15, 2027, deadline for Red No. 3 in food and its voluntary end-of-2027 target for six other certified colors.

What the Company Is Launching

According to California Natural Color, the crystal format dissolves easily and gives consistent color across uses. Brand marketing manager Dana Osborn said the color was developed to meet growing global demand for high-performance natural colors.

The company describes itself as one of the world’s largest suppliers of red anthocyanin colors, according to its Fi Europe exhibitor listing. Beet reds use a different pigment family, called betalains.

The announcement did not name customers, a price or a U.S. launch date.

Why Red Matters in Candy

Red No. 3, a synthetic dye used in some candies, loses its authorization in food on Jan. 15, 2027, after FDA revoked it in January 2025.

Colors from beets are already allowed in U.S. foods. FDA lists dehydrated beets and vegetable juice among color additives exempt from certification.

Why It Matters

FDA says it is working with manufacturers to remove six remaining certified colors from food by the end of 2027: Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3.

Each new natural red gives candy, dairy and plant-based brands another option for replacing synthetic reds. How well beet reds hold up through cooking and storage will decide where they fit.

Sources: Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery (Nov. 13, 2026); Fi Europe 2026 exhibitor listing, California Natural Color; FDA, Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum-Based Food Dyes; 21 CFR Part 73, Subpart A.