Why will synthetic pigments remain the preferred choice in 2025?
When you walk into any supermarket in the world, the first thing that catches your eye is the colorful food shelves: bright yellow chips, azure sport drinks, ruby red candy, and even rainbow-colored bagels.
Colors aren’t just for attracting attention. They also trigger memories, feelings, and appetite. According to color psychology research, up to 90% initial food judgments are made based on visual perception. Color also affects how we perceive flavor, freshness and value.
Many people today may believe that the use of synthetic food dyes is slowly fading from history. In the developed food markets, North America, and Europe, the consumption of synthetic pigments is still over 65%.
Why will the synthetic food colorant remain the preferred option in 2025? Explore together
-- Unstoppable cost advantage --
In the large-scale production of the food industry, cost control is the core proposition for the survival and competition of enterprises. The primary reason why synthetic pigments can occupy a place in the market is its unparalleled cost advantage, which is reflected in various links such as raw material acquisition, production and processing, and bulk supply, directly translating into the profit margin and market competitiveness of enterprises.
synthetic pigments is made from chemical products such as benzene, toluene, and naphthalene through standardized organic synthesis reactions. The supply of raw materials is stable and the price fluctuations are relatively controllable.Natural pigments, on the other hand, are largely made from animal and plant materials such as beetroots, gardenia fruits, chilis, etc. Natural factors like climate, soil, area of planting, pests, and diseases have a great impact on the yield of these materials, causing frequent fluctuations in their prices.
The extreme weather in 2023 will affect many parts of the globe, leading to a rise of 12%-18% on the price of natural pigments such as beetroot and gardenia fruits.
This will directly impact the margins of small- and medium-sized businesses that depend on natural pigments.. The raw materials for synthetic pigments come from the chemical industry chain, with large-scale production capacity and mature supply chain. Even in the face of energy cost fluctuations, their price stability is still much higher than that of natural pigments.
In terms of unit cost, the price advantage of synthetic pigments is more significant. Synthetic pigments have extremely strong coloring power. In scenarios such as candy coating and baking decoration, only a small amount of raw materials need to be added per kilogram to achieve the desired effect. The actual cost of use after conversion is still lower than that of similar natural pigments. For large food enterprises, the impact of cost differences is more pronounced.
In the current food industry where profit margins are generally low, such cost increases are difficult for many companies to bear. Especially in the mid to low end food market, price is a key factor in attracting consumers. Enterprises cannot digest the cost increase caused by natural pigments by increasing product prices. Therefore, synthetic edible pigments have become an inevitable choice for them to maintain price competitiveness.
The cost advantage of synthesizing pigments is also reflected in production efficiency. The synthesis process has a high degree of standardization and automation, and a single production line can achieve continuous production throughout the year without being limited by seasons or regions. The production cycle is short and the production capacity is huge.
For small and medium-sized enterprises and emerging brands, the low-cost characteristics of synthetic pigments have further lowered the market entry threshold. Without the need to invest huge amounts of money in the procurement and adaptation of natural pigments, standardized coloring of products can be achieved at a small cost, helping companies quickly launch products and seize the market. In the fiercely competitive food industry, this cost advantage directly translates into the survival ability of enterprises, which is also why even in 2025, when the concept of “natural” is prevalent, there are still a large number of enterprises adhering to the core reason of synthetic pigments.
-- Extremely stable performance --
Food undergoes complex environmental changes from production, storage, transportation to end consumption. Factors such as temperature, light, pH value, and oxygen can all affect the stability of pigments, leading to product discoloration and fading, which affects consumer experience and purchase intention.
The ultimate performance of synthetic pigments in terms of stability has become the core support for ensuring product quality consistency, which is also a key advantage that cannot be easily replaced.
synthetic pigments has strong environmental adaptability, and can maintain stable color whether it is high-temperature baking, low-temperature freezing, acidic beverages, or alkaline foods.
Taking lemon yellow and sunset yellow as examples, these two synthetic pigments can withstand high temperatures above 150 ℃. In the production process of baked goods such as biscuits and cakes, even after long-term baking, they can still maintain bright colors.
In contrast, the stability of natural pigments is generally poor. Curcumin is prone to decomposition and fading under light, while beet red pigment is sensitive to temperature and pH. Although it is relatively stable under acidic conditions, it quickly degrades when exposed to heat or alkaline environments, making it difficult to apply natural pigments in many processing scenarios.
Synthetic food colors have a longer shelf-life. The shelf-life of food is directly correlated to the management of inventory and the market coverage of an enterprise. Stable color can be used to ensure the product has a consistent look throughout its shelf life. This will prevent consumers from refusing to buy the product due to color variations.
Similar products using natural pigments have a shelf-life of 3-6 months. They must be stored in low temperature and dark conditions. This increases the logistics and storage costs. Multinational food companies must transport their products long distances and store them for a long time. Synthetic pigments are highly stable, which reduces the loss rate and maintains quality on the global market.
Consistency in batches is a reflection of the stability of synthetic food colors. Each batch of pigments will be highly consistent with respect to color, concentration and coloring power. The formula does not have to be adjusted frequently by food companies to ensure standardized production.
It is important for the establishment of brand image because consumers can get the same visual experience when purchasing products at different times or through different channels. This increases brand trust. Natural pigments can vary significantly in color due to variations in raw materials, extraction processes and other factors. It is important for enterprises to spend a lot of time and effort on formula adjustments and quality control. Otherwise, it’s easy to run into problems like uneven color depths, which can affect brand reputation.
For food companies, consistency in product quality is the core of brand competitiveness, and synthetic pigments is the key raw material to ensure this consistency. In the market environment of 2025, consumers’ demands for product quality are becoming increasingly stringent. Any quality fluctuations caused by color issues may lead to negative evaluations from consumers and loss of market share. Therefore, in order to ensure product quality and reduce business risks, synthetic pigments is still a rational choice for food enterprises.
-- Color solutions that are flexible and can be used for all categories --
Food industry is a diverse field with many different categories. Each category has its own processing methods, formula compositions and taste requirements. This creates a variety of demands on the solubility of pigments, their coloring power, range of colors, and other properties. With its wide variety of colors and adaptability, synthetic pigments can be used to color almost any food category. This is a major reason for its high market competitiveness.
A wide range of synthetic food colorants are available with a comprehensive color coverage. This can be used to meet the different color requirements of food companies. There are more than 60 different types of synthetic pigmentss, which include basic colors, composite colors, and colors like red, yellow blue, green purple etc. These colors are pure and bright, which is difficult to achieve using natural pigments.
Red 40, for example, is one of most commonly used synthetic colors. It has a vibrant and full-color, which makes it a popular choice in many categories, including candy, beverages baked goods, seasonings etc. In the United States, this pigment is found in over 36000 different types of food, such as Heinz sweets sauce, Kraft French salad dressings, flavored milk and yogurt.
Natural pigments are softer and have a limited range of colors. This makes it difficult to create vibrant and bright hues in particular for blues, purples and other color schemes. Natural pigments are limited in their selection and have poor stability, making it difficult to meet the visual requirements of certain products.
Synthetic food dyes are highly soluble and suitable for a variety of food products. Different food forms such as liquids, solids, semi-solids, etc. have different solubility requirements. The solubility of synthetic pigments is usually good, either in water or alcohol. This allows them to be dispersed quickly and uniformly into food systems for uniform coloring.
Natural pigments are generally poorly soluble in water. Some pigments, such as curcumin, require emulsifiers and organic solvents for dispersion, which can increase production costs and affect food taste and safety.
synthetic pigments has a strong coloring power, and a small quantity can produce the desired effect. It is possible to reduce the amount of food coloring, and avoid the negative impact that excessive coloring has on food taste.
Synthetic food colors can be adapted to complex food formulations, and they work in synergy with other additives. They do not affect the shelf-life or quality of food.
Modern food formulas contain a variety of additives like preservatives and sweeteners. Synthetic pigments are compatible with these ingredients, and they do not react chemically or influence each other.
Synthetic food colors are used in almost all food categories.
In the candy category, products such as rainbow candy, chewing gummy, chocolate beans, and others rely on artificial pigments to create rich, diverse color combinations that attract consumers.
In the category of beverages, you will find carbonated drinks and sports drinks as well as fruit juice drinks. Present bright colors by using synthetic pigments to enhance the visual appeal of your products.
Cakes, cookies, breads, etc., are all included in the baking category. The synthetic pigments are used to decorate and color the products in order to satisfy consumer aesthetic requirements.
Soy sauce, vinegar and sauces are all included in the category of seasonings. Synthetic pigments can improve the appearance of products and increase their market acceptance.
In order to increase the appeal of infant and toddler foods and encourage appetite, it is possible to use synthetic pigments, such as sunset yellow and lemon yellow, that have been subjected to strict safety tests and meet national standards.
-- Reduce operational business risks --
Compliance is essential for food businesses to survive and grow in the face of stricter global food regulations. Synthetic food dyes have undergone extensive safety testing and market validation. They also meet clear regulatory standards. By assuming that enterprises adhere to the rules, they can reduce their business risks and avoid crises of compliance caused by color issues. This is especially important for multinational food corporations.
International standards and regulations of different countries reflect the compliance of synthetic food colors. Codex Alimentarius Commission regulations are clear on synthetic pigments definitions, their scope of use and their maximum usage. This is a standard that can be used by global food companies.
These standards define which synthetic pigments are allowed, the range of their use, and the maximum amount that can be added. To ensure compliance, enterprises only need to adhere to the standards.
Natural pigments are more complicated to comply with. Natural pigments, due to the wide variety of sources and complex composition of these pigments, are considered safer. However, some of them have not been thoroughly tested for safety, leading to significant differences between countries in their regulatory policies.
Some natural pigments may be approved in Europe but not in the United States. Some pigments may also produce harmful substances when processed due to their unstable composition.
There is also controversy regarding the “natural” attribute of natural pigments. Different countries have different standards and definitions for “natural colors”. Companies that operate internationally are required to comply with different market requirements, increasing operating costs and risk.
Synthetic food colors have undergone extensive toxicological testing and market validation. The main synthetic food pigments, such as sunset yellow, lemon yellow, bright green, etc., are widely used. After decades of research and use, they have been validated as safe.
Synthetic food colors are more compliant in cross-border commerce. Food companies export products to different countries and regions with different regulatory policies. Use of internationally recognized and compliant synthetic food colors can help reduce the barriers to market access caused by issues with compliance.
Compliance is vital for food businesses. Choosing synthetic edible pigments that have low compliance risks, as well as clear standards, is a prerequisite to ensuring sustainable operations. Global food regulations are expected to become stricter in 2025 and consumer demands for food safety continue to rise. Enterprises will reduce their business risks by ensuring that synthetic food colors are compliant.
Manufacturer of Pigments and dyes.
Zhishang Bio is a key partner in the global supply of surfactants, daily-use chemicals and other products. They focus on supplying high-purity and quality Pigments and dyes.
We provide stable, cost-effective, and efficient one-stop purchasing solutions to global customers. We understand how important a reliable supply is to your business. Therefore, we strive to be the best in all aspects.
We have a close relationship with the leading manufacturers in order to guarantee that our products are of high quality and meet industry standards. We are able, through our large-scale purchasing and efficient supply management, to offer customers highly competitive market prices. We also offer flexible quotes based upon the volume of the purchase to help them optimize their production costs.
Our services are characterized by a highly developed logistics system. We achieve visual tracking through multiple warehouse layouts and digital logistic management systems both at home and abroad. This allows us to support multimodal intermodal transport such as rail, road, and sea.
Our service system is designed around the needs of our customers. Our team of professionals responds quickly 7×24 hours per day. We offer personalized services such as product packaging and customized packaging according to customer needs. We focus on creating stable, long-term strategic partnerships with our clients in order to achieve mutual growth.
The logistics system is one of the core advantages of our services. Through multiple warehousing layouts and digital logistics management systems at home and abroad, we achieve visual tracking of the entire transportation process, supporting multimodal intermodal transportation such as sea, rail, and road, strictly ensuring delivery timeliness, and even safe and compliant professional distribution for dangerous goods transportation.
We are committed to building a customer-centric service system. Our professional team provides 7 × 24-hour rapid response, which not only provides precise technical support and after-sales guarantee, but also offers personalized services such as product packaging and customized packaging according to customer needs. We focus on establishing long-term and stable strategic partnerships with our clients, achieving mutual growth through continuous value creation
By choosing us, you are not only selecting a supplier; you are also choosing a partner that is dedicated to your success. We will be happy to offer you free samples and detailed technical support.
Shandong Zhishang Bio Co., Ltd
Zhishang Bio, a subsidiary of Zhishang Chemical Co., Ltd., was established in 2016 and is a new type of chemical enterprise that integrates research and development, production, and sales. Zhishang Bio always adheres to the concept of “integrity management, strict quality control, customer first”.
Through continuous efforts, significant breakthroughs have been made in industries such as pharmaceutical intermediates, pesticide intermediates, food additives, and cosmetic raw materials. The domestic trade team sells well throughout the country, while the foreign trade team is exported to more than 30 countries and regions including the United States, Russia, Spain, Brazil, and enjoys a global reputation.
Invited to participate in this exhibition, Zhishang Bio will comprehensively showcase the company’s strength and achievements in the research and development, production, and quality control of pharmaceutical and pesticide intermediates! At that time, our company will set up an CPHI exhibition at booth E12D29 at the venue, and we will take you to further understand our company’s advantageous products in detail!
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