A newly developed natural food colouring made from beetroot extracts could be a solution to replacing carmine colours made from insects, according to ingredient producer Synthite.
Chr Hansen is exploring ways of stabilising the supply of cochineal, the raw material used to make natural red colour carmine, as demand for the South American insect is outstripping supply.
The use of the food colouring carmine has steadily increased in key European markets over the past six years, according to the latest market data from Mintel.
Suppliers of the food colouring carmine are taking a cautious approach to new customers, as the industry continues to feel the impact of supply shortages, which this year sent prices for the ingredient soaring six fold.