Natural Food Color Production Capacity Increases
New production sites aim to help manufacturers phase out synthetic dyes by improving the supply of natural colorants.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Organic Food
Live Poll
Do you trust that shifting to regional manufacturing will eventually result in lower prices for you?
Döhler is expanding its production capacity for natural food colorings at its Karaman, Türkiye site. This expansion aims to provide more product formats as manufacturers increasingly transition away from using synthetic dyes in food items.
Why it matters
The move aims to improve the supply availability of plant-based dyes like anthocyanin and betanin, addressing industry-wide pricing barriers for natural color alternatives. By increasing production, the company seeks to make it easier for food manufacturers to replace synthetic options.
Döhler is scaling up its Karaman, Türkiye facility using new processing technology to boost anthocyanin- and betanin-based color production. The full impact of these upgrades on total market supply is currently unknown.
The players
Döhler
A global producer of natural ingredients, food additives, and technology solutions for the food and beverage industry.
The details
The Karaman site utilizes new resin columns and an evaporator to isolate and concentrate pigments from black carrots and beetroot. Once extracted, a spray dryer allows for powder production, while a jet mill performs micronization to reach specific particle sizes. These tools enable the production of natural colors in diverse, standardized formats suitable for a wider array of food processing applications.
Timeline
The first phase of the Arco 57 Industrial Park site in Mexico opened in July 2026.
Industry suppliers reported pricing barriers for natural colors in August 2026.
The Karaman site expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Health Landscape
The food industry is currently navigating a widespread shift away from synthetic dyes toward plant-derived alternatives. This expansion directly addresses the supply-chain bottlenecks that have historically kept natural options at a price disadvantage compared to synthetic counterparts.
Increased production of natural colors may soon lead to more products on store shelves that use plant-derived pigments instead of synthetic dyes. If you are sensitive to artificial colorings, check ingredient labels for natural sources like black carrot or beetroot extract.
The takeaway
As food manufacturers move toward natural alternatives, they are prioritizing ingredients derived from vegetables like beets and carrots. You can stay informed by scanning food labels for these plant-based color sources when evaluating processed products.
Further reading
Learn more about the shifting standards for ingredients in our Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Foodingredientsfirst.
Live Poll
Do you trust that shifting to regional manufacturing will eventually result in lower prices for you?
