WASHINGTON — The US Food and Drug Administration is reviewing three petitions, all dealing with natural sources of color for foods and beverages, according to the Aug. 20 Federal Register. The colors are gardenia blue and safflower as well as the use of acetone as a solvent in the manufacture of carrot oil.
The petitions, if approved, would increase options for natural sources of color, which are needed in the FDA’s plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food and beverage supply.
The Gardenia Blue Interest Group filed its petition Aug. 4, proposing the FDA expand the use of gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods and beverages and lower the specification for arsenic in gardenia blue. The FDA in July approved the use of gardenia blue in certain foods and beverages, including sports beverages, ready-to-drink teas and candy.
The proposed expanded uses in the petition include alcoholic mixed drinks, carbonated drinks, processed breakfast cereals, ice cream and frozen dairy desserts, flavored milk, both flavored and unflavored yogurt, and snack foods.
GNT USA, LLC, Dallas, NC, issued its color additive petition on July 20, which the company had announced previously.
GNT proposed that the FDA amend its color additive regulations to provide for the use of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) as a color additive in various items, including tortilla wraps, beverages, colored-extruded breakfast cereals, chewing gum, candy and flavored yogurt.
The Washington-based International Association of Color Manufacturers on Aug. 3 filed its petition about acetone. The petition also proposed that the FDA add heavy metal limits and secondary names for carrot oil. In beta-carotene colors, carrot oil is the liquid or solid portion of the mixture or the mixture itself, according to the association.
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