DyeConverterTM

Solutions · Ingredient Reformulation

Natural dyereformulation.

Replace FD&C dyes with FDA-permitted natural colors matched to your formula, process and shelf life. We do not sell dyes, so a recommendation follows the evidence, not an inventory.

On the platform today

Why a natural color is never a one-for-one swap

A synthetic dye behaves much the same across a wide range of products. Natural color families do not, and each one fails under different conditions.

That is why we start from the SKU. A color that holds in a chilled beverage can fail in a hot-filled one, and the technical sheet alone will not tell you.

  • Anthocyanins: stability depends on pH, light, temperature, oxygen, ascorbic acid and enzymes.
  • Spirulina phycocyanin: one 2024 review reports stability below about 45°C and between pH 5.5 and 6.0, with sensitivity to heat and light.
  • Betacyanins, including beet: affected by temperature, pH, light, water activity and metal ions.
  • Annatto bixin: unstable with oxygen, light, high pH and heat.

Where the rules stand

Red No. 3 is the one federal deadline. FDA revoked its listing under the Delaney Clause, with January 15, 2027 for food and January 18, 2028 for ingested drugs. FDA confirmed both dates in August 2026.

Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2 and Green 3 are different. They remain listed, certified colors. FDA describes their removal by the end of 2027 as a voluntary industry effort, so calling it a ban is wrong.

State law is where the pressure varies. California bars the six dyes from public school food starting December 31, 2027. West Virginia’s school ban has applied since August 1, 2025, while its statewide sales ban, set for January 1, 2028, is blocked by a preliminary injunction now on appeal. The warning label in Texas SB 25 covers labels developed or copyrighted on or after January 1, 2027, and enforcement is enjoined for the plaintiff trade associations and their members while that case continues.

What you can actually use today

Galdieria extract blue, gardenia (genipin) blue, calcium phosphate and the expanded butterfly pea flower extract listings are all in effect, and each one is limited to the uses in its listing.

Beetroot red and the broader spirulina listing were published in February 2026, then delayed indefinitely on March 24, 2026 after objections. We do not treat either as usable until FDA publishes a new effective date.

Label wording matters too. Colors exempt from certification are declared under 21 CFR 101.22(k), and FDA said in February 2026 that it intends to exercise enforcement discretion for “no artificial colors” claims on foods without FD&C certified colors.

Questions R&D teams ask

Is Red 3 actually banned, and when do we have to be out?

Yes. FDA revoked the Red 3 listing under the Delaney Clause. The food deadline is January 15, 2027 and the ingested drug deadline is January 18, 2028, and FDA confirmed both dates in August 2026.

Are Red 40, Yellow 5 and the others banned?

No. All six remain listed and require batch certification. FDA tracks voluntary company commitments to remove them by the end of 2027, and the binding pressure comes from state laws and customer requirements.

Why can’t we swap Blue 1 for a natural blue directly?

The main natural blues are phycocyanin based, and published reviews report limited stability with heat, light and pH outside a narrow window. Dose, process step and pH all have to be matched to the application.

Can we use beetroot red or spirulina in anything now?

Check the listing first. FDA delayed the February 2026 beetroot red listing and the broader spirulina listing indefinitely after objections, so those new uses are not in effect. Spirulina’s earlier listed uses are a separate question, so confirm your category against the current regulation.

Sources

  1. FDA: Red No. 3 revocation order, 90 FR 4628
  2. FDA: order confirming Red No. 3 dates, 91 FR 50475
  3. FDA: tracking food industry pledges on petroleum-based dyes
  4. FDA: delay of beetroot red effective date
  5. FDA: delay of spirulina extract effective date
  6. FDA: galdieria extract blue, 90 FR 20104
  7. FDA: gardenia (genipin) blue, 90 FR 31586
  8. FDA: butterfly pea flower extract, 90 FR 20101
  9. FDA: letter on “no artificial colors” claims
  10. 21 CFR 101.22: labeling of colors
  11. California Department of Education: AB 2316
  12. West Virginia injunction opinion, IACM v. Singh
  13. Texas SB 25, enrolled text
  14. Covington: Texas SB 25 injunction summary
  15. Enaru et al., Antioxidants 2021: anthocyanin stability
  16. Yu et al., Food Research International 2024: phycocyanin
  17. Cao et al., J Sci Food Agric 2026: betacyanins
  18. Enayati et al., Food Chemistry 2023: bixin

Regulatory status last checked October 31, 2026. Rules change, so confirm against the current source before you act.