Regulatory Shifts Accelerate the Move to Natural Red Color Alternatives

June 4^th, 2026

Nearly 50% of U.S. consumers now prioritize clean eating, propelling interest in products made with simple, real ingredients that are free from synthetic additives.¹ This interest is driven by perceived health concerns, making artificial colors the most avoided ingredient among U.S. consumers.²

While consumer demand for clean label continues to guide product development across the food and beverage industry, regulatory pressures have proven to be a significant catalyst for change, fueling reformulation efforts and reshaping the industry at scale.

As regulations evolve in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA’s plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply, manufacturers have accelerated reformulation efforts. Many leading brands are in the process of reformulating products with natural color alternatives, replacing synthetic dyes like Red 3 and Red 40.

Common natural color sources that are an ideal replacement for synthetic red dyes include radish, carrot, beet and purple sweet potato. Offering both vibrant visual appeal and clean label alignment, these natural alternatives make it easy for brands to update formulas in response to consumer expectations and regulatory changes.

A Cleaner Shade of Red: Transforming Confectionery, Beverage & Bakery Formulation

California Natural Color offers a seamless path for brands ready to transition from synthetic dyes—like Red 3 and Red 40—to clean, plant-based alternatives, with solutions designed to overcome the most common formulation challenges to ensure color stability and performance.

With their broad application coverage, our clean label food color solutions excel in the confectionery space. From gummies to inclusions and hard candies, our color delivers vivid, stable hues ideal for replacing synthetic dyes without compromising quality or visual impact. The application of our natural reds extends to beverages, bakery and more, delivering natural pigments that maintain clarity and brightness.

Some examples of our natural red solutions for replacing Red 3 and Red 40 include:

• Purple Sweet Potato for Red 3 in confections < 4.5 pH

• Radish for Red 40 in confections < 4.5 pH

• Carrot for Red 40 in ready-to-drink (RTD) or powdered beverages

A Seamless Transition from Synthetic to Natural

As the premier solutions provider for synthetic color replacement, California Natural Color helps manufacturers reformulate with confidence, providing hands-on support for formulation challenges, personalized color matching, custom blending and color optimization. From formulation through scale-up, our team of experts helps streamline your development process to achieve the color you want.

With expert-driven, fast and responsive service, California Natural Color’s tailored color matching supports a smooth implementation process, ensuring products maintain their signature red look and feel. By combining technical expertise with high-performing natural pigments derived from fruits, vegetables and other plant-based sources, California Natural Color eases the transition to clean label color solutions—making the move from synthetic to natural both practical and highly effective.

Sources:

¹ Health Focus International. USA Trend Study Highlights. Insights from the 2025 HealthFocus USA Trend Study.

²Mintel, Free-from/Ingredients to Avoid – US – 2025