An international consumer survey among 5,000 respondents finds that today’s consumers prefer natural over artificial colors in their food and beverages.
Eye-catching colors and flavors attract kids, but nutrition attracts moms, when it comes to foods and beverages for children. Beyond this tug-of-war between parent and child, however, product developers also must be keenly aware of governmental programs, regulatory scrutiny and consumer advocacy groups focusing on foods for kids.
Danisco has taken natural food protection one step further, by converting its entire MicroGARD® and NovaGARD® ingredient lines to “gluten-free,” in response to growing consumer demand.
The FDA, after long stating that no scientific evidence conclusively links the petroleum-based colorants to hyperactivity and other ills, has agreed to reassess them.
As first reported in the February 21, 2011, Prepared Foods’ E-dition, D.D. Williamson has issued the following response to the news of CSPI’s effort: “Caramel color has undergone complete food safety testing more than 20 times in the past 35 years and meets rigorous food safety standards around the world.
Sethness Products Company has introduced its newest Class 1 Powdered Caramel Color. CJ CheilJedang Corp. (CJ), South Korea, in conjunction with Beidahuang, have announced the availability of RiPro80 rice bran protein and Riber50 rice bran fiber. And much more.
Coloring provides important clues to consumers as to a food or beverage's quality--from freshness to nutritional benefits--as well as its flavoring. It may be the first product characteristic that consumers use in deciding to purchase.