Three FDA Petitions Could Widen the Natural Color Palette
GNT, the Gardenia Blue Interest Group and the International Association of Color Manufacturers have each asked FDA to change natural color rules.
The race to replace synthetic dyes runs through the Federal Register. Three color additive petitions now before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could give food makers more natural options.
TLDR
- GNT wants approval for a safflower-based yellow.
- A gardenia blue group wants 20 more food categories.
- The color manufacturers’ association wants acetone allowed for carrot oil.
- All three were noticed in the Federal Register on August 19.
Safflower Yellow From GNT
GNT USA is seeking approval for safflower extract as a plant-based yellow. Target uses include tortillas, cereals, salad dressings and confections. “Safflower concentrate offers numerous technical advantages, including good pH, heat and light stability,” the company said. GNT spent nearly a decade on research and safety evaluation for the filing.
More Room for Gardenia Blue
FDA approved gardenia (genipin) blue in July 2025 for six food categories. The Gardenia Blue Interest Group now wants 20 more. They include carbonated drinks, alcoholic beverages, cereals, chewing gum, ice cream and yogurt. The petition also proposes tightening the arsenic limit from 2 to 1 milligram per kilogram.
A Solvent Change for Carrot Oil
The International Association of Color Manufacturers wants acetone permitted as a solvent for carrot oil. Production currently uses hexane, capped at 25 parts per million. The petition would also add heavy metal limits and secondary names for carrot oil.
Why It Matters
Blue and stable yellow are two of the hardest shades to match without synthetic dyes. Each approval or expansion gives product developers another tool. With the federal push to remove petroleum-based dyes, the speed of these reviews now shapes reformulation timelines.
Source: FoodNavigator. Read the report.