California Natural Color’s portfolio of product solutions includes a full spectrum of color for a variety of applications, including dairy. Coloring dairy products poses formulation challenges due to protein interaction, processing, light exposure and shelf-life concerns, the company says. As a supplier of anthocyanin-based colors, the CNC team offers technical expertise to help dairy manufacturers use natural colors that meet clean-label and vibrant color expectations. As the industry shifts from synthetic to natural colors, the company’s portfolio delivers reliable, plant-based options such as beet, spirulina, turmeric and purple sweet potato. Red Beet, for example, is a strong alternative to Red 3, offering consistent, stable, and visually appealing hues for ice cream and novelty items, according to the company.

Organic caramel from Global Organics offers dairy and plant-based dairy formulators a clean-label way to build both color and flavor. Made from just two ingredients — organic sugar and water — these Class 1 caramels contain no sulfites, ammonia or added chemicals, and can be labeled simply as “burnt sugar,” the company states. Available in Fair Trade options, organic caramel is non-GMO and free of 4-MEI, a compound of concern found in some conventional caramels. It delivers varying intensities of color and caramelized flavor depending on usage and performs particularly well in applications such as ice cream, where a suggested 2% inclusion provides a rich hue.

Carotene from GNT offers a plant-based alternative to FD&C Yellow 5 in vanilla and custard-style frozen desserts. Sourced from sustainably cultivated algae, it delivers warm, creamy hues that align with consumer expectations while supporting clean-label ingredient statements and “no artificial colors” claims, according to the company. Its high color intensity allows for low usage rates, helping developers achieve the desired appearance efficiently in frozen applications. Exberry Yellow Carotene helps maintain an appealing look throughout shelf life while preserving the familiar visual cues consumers expect from classic vanilla flavors.

The Amaize line from Sense Colour offers a range of vibrant orange-red, red and pink-red shades for fruit preps and dairy inclusions that are ideal for replacing FD&C Red 40, according to the company. This line helps companies achieve colors for traditional berry flavors like strawberry, cherry and raspberry, or unique and trending flavors like guava or dragon fruit. These non-GMO corn-based colors have the benefit of neutral taste and excellent heat and light stability, allowing them to withstand high heat processing and transparent packaging. They can be labelled as vegetable juice for color and have a completely transparent supply chain from seed to sale, the company states.