This yr, meals dyes are being put below a microscope. Following the US Meals and Drug Administration’s ban on Red Dye No. 3 in January, the administration has since accredited three natural food dyes in its stead. Now, along with the FDA and Division of Well being and Human Providers asking meals producers to part out all petroleum-based artificial dyes from the US meals provide, the FDA is asking these corporations to fast-track getting rid of Red No. 3 earlier than the 2027 deadline. To assist this alongside, the administration simply accredited a brand new blue meals dye.
Because the fourth coloration additive from pure sources accredited by the FDA this yr, gardenia (genipin) blue has been granted permission for use in numerous meals. Based on the administration, this blue dye comes from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. It may be utilized in exhausting and gentle sweet, sports activities drinks, ready-to-drink teas, flavored or enhanced noncarbonated water, and fruit drinks and ades.
“This expedited timeline underscored our severe intent to transition away from petroleum-based artificial dyes within the meals provide,” stated FDA Commissioner Marty Makary in a news release. “Now, by increasing the palette of obtainable colours derived from pure sources, meals producers have quite a lot of choices accessible that can make it simpler to finish their use of petroleum-based dyes.”
Gardenia (genipin) blue joins the purple algae-based galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract and the white coloration calcium phosphate as 2025’s new and accredited pure meals coloration components.
Is gardenia (genipin) blue an allergen?
The FDA accredited the usage of gardenia (genipin) blue from a petition by the Gardenia Blue Curiosity Group. Based on the FDA’s order, gardenia (genipin) blue is a darkish purple or blue liquid produced from the mature fruit of the Gardenia jasminoides Ellis plant with soy protein hydrolysate.
Now, chances are you’ll be considering: Is not soy an allergen? Based on the GBIG, the soy protein allergens aren’t anticipated to be detected within the remaining coloration additive as a result of “unreacted protein hydrolysate is eliminated throughout manufacturing.”
As a result of no soy protein allergens shall be within the remaining product, the GBIG is asking to be exempt from meals allergen labeling. The FDA is at the moment reviewing this petition.
