Wild launches natural yellow food colour

Wild said that the development of Betanat, a kosher, highly stable yellow-orange colour, was made possible due to a combination of its technical expertise and support capabilities, with Vitanene's fermentation knowledge and experience.

The development of the natural colour product is very much in line with current consumer demands. Food makers have increasingly been looking for alternatives to artificial food colours such as Sunset Yellow, Tartrazine and Quinoline Yellow.

In July last year, for example, the UK's Co-op chain banned these three legal colours, along with nine others, in direct response to [consumer] concerns.

And furthermore, the UK's Food Standards Agency is currently seeking views and comments on proposed amendments to European colour regulations covering Sunset Yellow FCF (E 110) and Titanium Dioxide (E 171).

The key proposals include the amendment of the specification for Sunset Yellow FCF (E 110) to include a new limit for Sudan I of 0.5 mg/kg, as requested by the UK delegation at the European Commissions Food Additives Working Group meeting in Brussels on 21 November 2005.

This is why ingredients companies such as Wild, not to mention competitors such as Chr Hansen, have been so busy developing new all-natural colours that tap these concerns. As using artificial colours becomes more and more unattractive, the market for natural alternatives is set to blossom.

Wild and Vitanene's Betanat product is available in a 30 per cent oil formulation and a 10 per cent powder formulation.

The oil-soluble emulsion is produced using a unique fermentation and extraction method, creating a natural beta-carotene that is allergen, gluten, and gelatine-free.

Wild says that depending on the amount used, colouring capabilities range from yellow to deep orange.

The 10 per cent powder solution on the other hand is a coldwater dispersible free-flowing powder and can be applied to colour a variety of food and beverages.

Through an exclusive partnership agreement, Wild will become the exclusive distributor of the product.