Why Consumers Are Switching from Petroleum Dyes to Natural Colors, Find Out Now!

As the world's food industry turns away from more opaque and health-risk ingredients, synthetic dyes are under growing scrutiny. Among the most controversial are petroleum-based dyes. Orange B and Citrus Red No. 2, among others such as Red 40, Brilliant Blue, and Yellow 3, are banned, under assessment, or subject to regulatory phase-outs in light of consumer safety concerns.

Food and beverage producers are now being pushed, not only by regulatory agencies but also by increasingly knowledgeable consumers, to reformulate with safer, natural ingredients. Here, our Ruby Realm and Tropical Mellow color lines provide a timely and technically viable solution.

The Decline of Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes in Food Industry

Petroleum-based synthetic dyes have been utilized for years for their bright color, reliability, and affordability. Orange B and Citrus Red No. 2 were used in sausage casings and coloring the rind of citrus fruits to make it look more even. Serious safety issues have been raised due to their origin from coal tar and petroleum distillates, and increasing toxicological evidence, leading to regulatory re-evaluation and compelling the industry to move towards finding safer, natural alternatives to color.

Global Regulations Drive Phase-Out of Harmful Synthetic Food Dyes

Several researches have linked artificial colorings with allergic responses, behavioral problems such as children's hyperactivity, and even carcinogenicity in test animals. All these have prompted regulatory actions around the globe. Orange B, initially approved by the FDA in 1966 for exclusive use in sausage casings (no more than 150 ppm), has not been used since 1978 when its sole U.S. manufacturer suspended production. Nevertheless, it was technically still listed until recently. As of 2025, the FDA has taken the first steps to officially withdraw Orange B's approval as part of a larger initiative to phase out petroleum dyes (FDA Announcement).

Citrus Red No. 2 is still allowed on non-organic orange rind in the U.S., but is up for final phase-out (FDA Citrus Red No. 2 Status).

The European Union has banned various synthetic colorants already and requires warning labels on others (EU Food Additives Regulation).

This changing regulatory environment is a clear indicator: petroleum-based dyes like synthetic dyes are being phased out in favor of less hazardous alternatives.

The Technical Challenge of Replacing Synthetic Colors with Natural Alternatives

Regulatory prohibitions are merely half of the picture. Global brands are also facing increasing consumer demand for "recognizable ingredients" and "free-from" labeling. But replacing synthetic color isn't just a labeling issue; it's a technical challenge that needs scrutiny. In the past, natural colors have been problematic with heat stability, pH sensitivity, and batch-to-batch variation. This has made reformulation difficult, especially in applications like beverage, bakery, or confectionery, where color stability is totally critical.

Vinayak’s Natural Color Solutions: Stable, Scalable Alternatives to Synthetic Dyes

At Vinayak Ingredients, we've created Natural color solutions namely Ruby Realm and Tropical Mellow, they are engineered to overcome the historical limitations of plant-based pigments. These solutions are formulated for high performance in demanding food and beverage applications, offering improved stability across heat, light, and pH conditions. With consistent batch-to-batch quality and broad application versatility, they represent a practical, scalable alternative for manufacturers looking to move away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes.

Ruby Realm: Natural Red to Pink Color Solutions for Heat-Stable Applications

Ruby Realm: Is a range of Natural color solutions in the red to pink spectrum offering a variety of heat-stable colors in both powder and liquid forms useful across multiple applications

Rubra Red – A proprietary blend that provides a heat-stable red shade based on natural vegetable extracts. 

Carmine – A natural cochineal insect-derived pigment with an intense red color and high light and pH stability in a broad variety of foods.

Beetroot – A vegetable-based colour delivering a bright pink to red colour, preferably used in low-heat or cold-process products because it is prone to heat and light degradation.

Suitable for deep red to reddish-pink shades

Tropical Mellow: Heat-Stable Natural Colors in the Yellow to Orange Spectrum

Tropical Mellow: Is a range of Natural color solutions in the orange to yellow spectrum offering a variety of heat-stable colors in both powder and liquid useful forms across multiple applications

Curcumin – It is obtained from the root of turmeric and imparts a yellow pigment with antioxidant properties. It's applicable for use in sauces, snack foods, and ready meals.

Beta Carotene – A natural pigment derived from carrots and other vegetables, it gives a golden yellow to orange colour and is extremely stable in heat and light.

Annatto – It is obtained from the seeds of the achiote tree and gives yellow to orange colors and is used extensively in dairy, bakery, and savory applications.

Paprika – It is obtained from red pepper pods which are dried and gives orange to reddish rich colors and is suitable for oil-based products and processed food. Formulated for uniform dispersion and color retention over time

Both series are available in oil and water-dispersible format (application dependent), and compatible with most current manufacturing equipment.

Sustainability and Clean Labels: Why Natural Colors Are the Future

The shift to natural colors is not simply about compliance with regulations; it's a decision for sustainability. Petroleum-based dyes depend on chemicals and high-energy processes. Natural colors, when responsibly sourced and processed, provide a more sustainable option.

In a consumer environment where consumers increasingly reward sustainability and transparency, embracing clean-label colorants is a competitive strategy.

Future-Proof Your Brand with Vinayak’s Natural Color Reformulation Solutions

With colors such as Orange B and Citrus Red No. 2 phasing out, reformulation is not only expected, it's unavoidable. Manufacturers will get a competitive edge as they can easily cope with future regulations, customer demands, and brand security targets.

Vinayak Ingredients stands poised to help drive this shift with natural color solutions that bring performance and confidence of mind.

Focusing on US Market & Consumer Safety

In the United States, regulatory agencies like the FDA have intensified their efforts to phase out petroleum-based dyes such as Orange B and Citrus Red No. 2 by 2025. This move reflects growing concerns among American consumers, especially parents, about the health impacts of synthetic colorants on children, including allergies and behavioral issues. Food and beverage manufacturers in the US are therefore under increasing pressure to reformulate products with safer, natural colors that comply with strict regulatory standards and meet the demand for clean-label ingredients. Vinayak Ingredients’ Ruby Realm and Tropical Mellow lines provide US manufacturers with FDA-compliant, heat-stable natural color solutions tailored to meet these evolving market needs.