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 accepted three natural food dyes in its stead. Now, along with the FDA and Division of Well being and Human Companies 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 accepted a brand new blue meals dye.
Because the fourth colour additive from pure sources accepted by the FDA this yr, gardenia (genipin) blue has been granted permission for use in varied meals. In accordance with the administration, this blue dye comes from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. It may be utilized in laborious and delicate sweet, sports activities drinks, ready-to-drink teas, flavored or enhanced noncarbonated water, and fruit drinks and ades.
“This expedited timeline underscored our critical intent to transition away from petroleum-based artificial dyes within the meals provide,” mentioned 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 out there 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 colour calcium phosphate as 2025’s new and accepted pure meals colour components.
Is gardenia (genipin) blue an allergen?
The FDA accepted the usage of gardenia (genipin) blue from a petition by the Gardenia Blue Curiosity Group. In accordance with the FDA’s order, gardenia (genipin) blue is a darkish purple or blue liquid created from the mature fruit of the Gardenia jasminoides Ellis plant with soy protein hydrolysate.
Now, you could be considering: Is not soy an allergen? In accordance with the GBIG, the soy protein allergens aren’t anticipated to be detected within the remaining colour additive as a result of “unreacted protein hydrolysate is eliminated throughout manufacturing.”
As a result of no soy protein allergens might be within the remaining product, the GBIG is asking to be exempt from meals allergen labeling. The FDA is presently reviewing this petition.
