Natural food colors market seen reaching $5.84 billion by 2035

By AI, Created 6:30 AM UTC, May 25, 2026, /AGP/ – Natural food colors are gaining ground as food and beverage makers respond to clean-label demand, functional food trends and pressure to replace synthetic dyes. Allied Market Research puts the market at $2.16 billion in 2023 and forecasts it will nearly triple by 2035.

Why it matters: - Clean-label, organic and plant-based products are pushing manufacturers toward natural colorants as consumers scrutinize ingredient lists and avoid artificial dyes. - Natural pigments are also becoming a tool for brands trying to signal health, authenticity and sustainability in food and beverage products. - The shift affects reformulation plans across beverages, snacks, dairy and plant-based meat.

What happened: - Allied Market Research valued the natural food colors market at US$2,155.4 million in 2023. - The firm projects the market will grow at a 8.7% CAGR from 2024 to 2035. - The market is expected to reach US$5,839.4 million by the end of 2035. - The report says more than 60% of consumers avoid artificial colors, citing the International Food Information Council. - Allied Market Research published a sample report page for the study: Download Sample Pages of Research Overview.

The details: - Natural colorants commonly come from turmeric, beetroot, spirulina, annatto and blueberry. - Functional and nutraceutical products are using these pigments to add visual appeal and nutritional value, including antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. - Functional beverages, protein bars, supplements and wellness snacks are key use cases. - The report says rising preventative-health interest after COVID-19 is supporting demand for naturally derived ingredients. - Regulatory and certification demands are a major restraint. - Brands often need to meet clean-label, organic, non-GMO, halal, kosher and allergen-free standards at the same time. - Regional rules vary, with the EU described as stricter than the U.S. on labeling. - Smaller manufacturers can struggle with the cost and staffing needs of compliance work. - The report breaks the market down by solubility, application, color type, source, form and region. - Solubility categories include water and dye. - Applications include processed food products and beverages. - Color types include caramel, carotenoids, anthocyanins, curcumin, carmine, annatto, and chlorophyll and spirulina. - Sources are split between plant and animal. - Forms include liquid and powder. - Regional coverage spans North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, the Middle East and Africa. - Allied Market Research also included an enquiry link: Enquiry Before Buying.

Between the lines: - Biotechnology is emerging as a way to make natural pigments more scalable and consistent. - Microbial and precision fermentation can produce anthocyanins, betalains and carotenoids in controlled environments. - The approach can reduce dependence on seasonal crops and land-intensive farming. - Biotech also allows more control over stability, solubility and intensity. - That makes the ingredients more usable in different food systems and processing conditions. - The report frames this as a path to lower-cost, eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic dyes. - The competitive field already includes large ingredients and flavor companies such as Archer-Daniels-Midland, T. Hasegawa, Oterra, Givaudan, IFF, Kalsec, GNT, Sensient and Döhler. - In September 2024, T. Hasegawa acquired Abelei Flavors, Inc. to broaden its flavor portfolio in North America. - In March 2022, ADM launched PearlEdge, a white color solution derived from natural sources like corn starch for food and beverage use.

What’s next: - The market is likely to keep leaning toward clean-label reformulation as consumer demand for recognizable ingredients persists. - Biotech-based color production may gain traction if it can deliver stable supply and lower costs at scale. - Regulatory complexity will remain a hurdle, especially for companies selling across multiple regions. - Allied Market Research continues to track adjacent categories including food colors, food colorants and caramel color.