There’s a colorful shift happening in the food industry, and it seems like the days of artificial food dyes are numbered. Natural food dye companies are cranking up their operations following a push from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has boldly called for the elimination of artificial colors by 2026. As a response, a flurry of companies are now clamoring to hop on the bandwagon, but not all of them are convinced it can happen overnight. In fact, some food industry executives believe a complete transition might take significantly longer—up to six years or more.
One of the big players in this vibrant transformation is Sensient Technologies. Although not a name that rolls off the tongue, this company has been quietly making its mark. With a history spanning nearly 150 years, Sensient has been producing natural colors for American food and beverage companies for over 15 years. It has steadily ramped up production as more companies aim to meet the new dye demand, especially since RFK Jr.’s call to action. The big takeaway? Every product already in stores will need to jump on the natural dye train to keep up with evolving consumer preferences.
Sensient is certainly no stranger to the natural dye scene. They’ve been perfecting their techniques for a while now, creating durable formulas that can withstand the rigors of heat, light, and pH changes. Their natural dyes come from an array of sources, including plants, fruits, and vegetables. However, the catch is that many of these raw materials aren’t actually sourced from the U.S. Instead, they’re imported from various parts of the globe, and Sensient is using this international approach to maximize productivity. By planting crops in different locations around the world, they can take advantage of varying growing seasons. Smart thinking!
Of course, there are challenges too. Sensient is expecting to need ten times the current amount of natural dye to keep up with rising demand. To tackle this challenge, they are searching for land that isn’t susceptible to natural disasters—a hefty task in itself. To ensure safety, they are also keen to find areas with low pesticide use, as these chemicals can contaminate their natural dyes. Sensient has established its own testing standards as natural colors currently lack FDA approval, making its responsibility even more crucial. After all, on average, one out of every four raw materials simply doesn’t meet their safety standards.
As the competition heats up, Sensient is confident in its long-term strategy. They’ve been in the game long enough to have an advantage over any newcomers trying to break into the natural dye market. By investing time and resources ahead of the trend, they believe their established reputation will provide substantial returns. In a world where trends seem to change more rapidly than a weather forecast, it’s refreshing to see a company embracing the slow and steady approach, planting seeds for success—figuratively and literally. With demands for natural dyes on the rise and states considering laws to ban synthetic dyes, Sensient just might be in the right place at the right time.
