GNT, a leading supplier of plant-based colors, has taken a significant step towards expanding yellow color options in the U.S. food and beverage industry. The company has filed a petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval for safflower-based colors. This move aims to provide manufacturers with a new, natural option for creating lively yellow shades.
Safflower’s Potential
Safflower, an edible plant, can produce vivid yellow colors. GNT’s EXBERRY safflower concentrate, already recognized as a Coloring Food in the European Union, has been safely used in various food and beverage applications worldwide. The U.S. petition covers a broad range of categories, including beverages, confections, frozen desserts, dairy, and others. The petition documentation also specifically includes cereals, soups, dressings, pickled vegetables, and non-dairy applications, demonstrating the extensive scope of potential uses GNT envisions for this natural color solution.
According to GNT, safflower concentrate offers several technical advantages. It’s stable under different pH levels, heat, and light, making it suitable for various applications. Its water-soluble nature makes it an excellent fit for beverages and clear yellow appearances. Moreover, it can be part of color blends, helping manufacturers create shades like orange and green. The water-soluble properties are particularly relevant for beverage applications where clarity and visual appeal are essential considerations for consumer acceptance.
Regulatory Process Ahead
Like all color additive petitions, the FDA will review GNT’s request. The outcome remains subject to the agency’s determination. Jeannette O’Brien, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at GNT USA, noted that bringing a new color additive petition to this stage requires extensive scientific work, regulatory preparation, and investment. The company has spent nearly a decade researching and evaluating the safety of safflower concentrate.
The petition is supported by extensive safety data and scientific research developed to support the safe use of safflower concentrate across the specified applications. This full documentation package reflects GNT’s commitment to meeting the rigorous standards expected by regulatory authorities for color additive approvals in the United States market.
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If approved, safflower concentrate would provide a valuable addition to the plant-based yellow color options available to U.S. manufacturers. Alice Lee, Technical Marketing Manager at GNT USA, highlighted its versatility, allowing developers to fine-tune a broad spectrum of bright, stable shades. Product developers need flexible color options that can support different applications, processing conditions, and shade targets. The value of safflower concentrate is not limited to yellow shades. Its water-soluble properties allow it to be used on its own or in blends with other plant-based colors to help manufacturers achieve their desired visual outcomes.
EXBERRY Brand Excellence
EXBERRY, GNT’s leading brand, offers a wide range of plant-based colors derived from non-GMO fruits, vegetables, and plants. These colors are known for their vibrancy, versatility, stability, and strong sustainability credentials. They are trusted by many leading food and beverage manufacturers globally. The EXBERRY portfolio includes a complete spectrum of shades created from these natural sources and is available in a wide range of formats suitable for almost any application, including confectionery, dairy, bakery, soft and alcoholic beverages, cereals, snacks, sauces, savory products, and plant-based meat, seafood, and dairy alternatives. The colors are valued for their ease of use in addition to their visual performance characteristics.
Company Background and Global Operations
Founded in 1978, GNT is a family-owned company committed to creating sustainable, plant-based ingredients. Headquartered in Mierlo, The Netherlands, the company maintains additional offices throughout Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, enabling it to serve manufacturers across multiple continents. GNT’s family ownership structure provides stability and long-term commitment, allowing the company to make strategic decisions focused on futureproofing supplies and raw material availability.
These sustainability commitments are designed to ensure the quality and consistent availability of raw materials over the long term, addressing a key concern for food and beverage manufacturers who require reliable ingredient sourcing. Customer service remains a key focus for the organization, with the company providing full support throughout every stage of the product development process. This full assistance includes concept innovation, color selection and matching, stability testing, upscaling support, regulatory matters guidance, and quality documentation handling. The company’s technical marketing managers work closely with product developers to help them handle the complexities of incorporating natural color solutions into their formulations while meeting both regulatory requirements and consumer expectations for visual quality and labeling transparency.
