Why wait until 2027 to go real-red with your candy?

It’s official: The United States has been put on ‘red alert’ regarding the use of artificial colorants in foods; specifically, the red dye 3 used in fruit juices, cookies and of course…candy products.

Within the state of California, red dye 3 is set to be prohibited in all foods by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), with consumer advocacy groups such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the Consumer Federation of America already pressing for a nationwide ban.

The good news for manufacturers serving the Golden State? They have until 2027 to make the transition to alternative ingredients. The even better news? Safer, more healthy colorants already exist for North American confectionery manufacturers – and have already been used successfully by many dsm-firmenich customers, not least in gummies. So, what’s the story?

It’s often said in the candy industry that color and flavor are intrinsically linked. Vibrant, appetizing color is what triggers the tastebuds, with color perception driving flavor expectation. Therefore, coloration solutions absolutely cannot compromise the delicious taste that gummy fans love. 

We also know that gummy lovers old and young are increasingly searching for healthier indulgence. In the same way that color and flavor go hand-in-hand, so too do the terms ‘healthy’ and ‘natural’. For the past 20 years, dsm-firmenich has developed a family of natural colorants that deliver on all these functional benefits.