Oterra is a global supplier of natural food colors made from plants and other natural sources, serving food and beverage manufacturers who want to replace synthetic dyes with clean-label alternatives. Headquartered in Hellerup, Denmark, Oterra supplies more than 1,000 color products to manufacturers across nearly every industry that uses color, from beverages to pet food.

A natural food color is a coloring ingredient extracted or derived from plants, minerals, or other naturally occurring sources, such as beets, carrots, or jagua fruit, rather than synthesized chemically. Manufacturers use natural colors to meet consumer demand for clean-label products while still achieving the vibrant shades people expect.

In the natural food color industry, “raw materials” refers to the plant from which we produce our natural food colors. A raw material could be a red beet, an orange carrot or a green leaf plant like alfalfa. There are a few exceptions, such as using a mineral, like calcium carbonate, for white. Read about our raw materials here.

A pigment is the substance that gives something color. For our industry, we consider it the substance in mainly plant tissue that produces a characteristic color. Betanin gives beets their red color, beta-carotene is the primary pigment that makes carrots orange, and chlorophyll gives green plants their green color. See here for more information.

Natural food colors come from plants or other naturally-occurring raw materials. To make natural colors for the food industry, we first separate the plant’s pigments from the plant tissue. Then we create a liquid or powder product taking into account: 1) standardizing the color in the product so every pack produces the exact same shade and intensity 2) stabilizing fragile pigments, and 3) heat processing and/or adding ingredients like lemon juice and sugar to maximize shelf life.

NatCol, an NGO (non-governmental organization) with expertise in natural colors has made a categorization of natural colors. Read it here.

If you live in the EU, “colouring foodstuffs” is a regulatory term that defines coloring foods as an ingredient that is made from a food that is 1) normally consumed (e.g. carrots) and that 2) colors food. A guidance note about “colouring foodstuffs” was in effect for about 10 years. Although it no longer exists, a precedence was created and the term will likely continue. In fact, to help manufacturers maintain consistency about coloring foods, NatCol created a code of practice about this topic .

Compared to other natural colors, coloring foods is the least processed and most like how one would make food colors at home in a kitchen. For example, we remove non-pigment plant material by filtering out large molecules, as opposed to extracting just the pigment molecules from plant materials. This leaves more of the plant material in our final natural food color product.

For labelling purposes coloring foods are considered ingredients, so they are not labelled as additives. The EU was the first to acknowledge and define the term “colouring foodstuffs,” but many countries around the world also have guidance regarding food ingredients with coloring properties, such as India and Israel.

Naturalness exists on a spectrum rather than a single standard. Oterra offers products across a range of processing levels, from lightly processed coloring foods to more refined natural colors, but none are synthetic. Regulatory definitions of "natural" continue to evolve alongside scientific research and legislation, and Oterra evaluates its products against current standards.

The various definitions and categories of food colors (see “What’s the difference between raw materials, pigments, natural colors and coloring foods?”), as well as the choice of ingredients we add is why we refer to “degree of naturality.” For example, lemon juice inherently contains a high citric acid content, thereby offering the same effect as purified citric acid. Both are produced naturally. Lemons are grown on trees and pressed. Citric acid is brewed by a yeast fermentation process. Some consumers prefer to see “lemon juice” on the ingredients label, so we offer that product even though it is slightly more expensive. Our experience is that standards and requirements change based on new science, consumer perceptions and regulatory decisions. We believe every step towards natural is a step in the right direction, and that’s why Oterra offers a complete range of colors in all categories of food colors except artificial.

Yes. Contrary to the common assumption that natural colors are limited to muted or pastel tones, Oterra's natural colors can achieve vivid, saturated shades comparable to synthetic dyes across the color spectrum, including bold blues, reds, and greens. See examples here and contact us for a sample.

Yes, when used as directed. Plant pigments behave differently from synthetic dyes, some are more sensitive to heat, light, or pH, for example, but Oterra formulates its products specifically to withstand real production conditions and deliver consistent, reliable color at scale.

Technically, a food additive is any ingredient added to food, like spices. They are mainly used to maintain or improve the food’s safety, freshness, taste, texture or appearance. After the discovery of pasteurization and canning in the 1800’s, food manufacturers developed a multitude of additives so their products could withstand production, transportation, packaging and storage requirements in our industrialized society.

The term “food additives” is loaded with negative connotations. Some food additives have proven to negatively affect our health after having been in our food chain for decades. Through the years we’ve been taught to avoid additives like MSG, sodium benzoate, artificial sweeteners, and more. It’s no wonder that we are so suspicious of them. It’s good that these stories make the news so we can be aware, but the downside is that the vast majority of news is negative and that affects our perceptions.

Those of us who cannot make all our food from scratch need to accept additives in our food. And we must rely on governmental regulatory bodies to keep us safe by forbidding or restricting the use of unsafe additives. Most regulatory bodies are aware of the need to re-evaluate with new knowledge and safety testing. Carmine and annatto were recently re-evaluated in the EU, and specifications and provisions updated to ensure safety. Many additives are harmless, but they don’t make the headlines for the “good job” they do to maintain or enhance our food.

Indirect additives are not intentionally added to food but may be present in trace amounts as a result of processing, packaging, shipping or storage.

Oterra supplies natural colors to seven core industries: beverages; confectionery; dairy, fruit preparations, and ice cream; bakery and cereals; savory and meat products; pet food; and dietary supplements.

The right natural color depends on your product's processing conditions, shelf-life requirements, target market, and consumer expectations. Oterra's technical team helps manufacturers weigh these factors — contact Oterra for a consultation tailored to your formulation and regulatory needs.

Yes. Although many of Oterra's raw materials come from specialized crops with seasonal harvests, Oterra manages sourcing and inventory to secure a stable, year-round supply of its natural colors. Read more here.

Oterra's portfolio includes more than 1,000 natural color products derived from fewer than 50 natural sources, in liquid and powder formats across the full color spectrum. Tell us what you need, and we can quickly zero in on the best products for you to test in your production. Contact us for the specific products available for your application and region.

No. Oterra specializes exclusively in colors for the food, beverage, dietary supplement, and pet food industries, and does not supply colors for cosmetics, textiles, or other non-food goods.

Yes. Oterra supplies its natural colors in both liquid and powder formats across its portfolio, so manufacturers can choose whichever format best fits their production process and finished product.

Some can, but it depends on the specific product and your certifying body's requirements, not every natural color automatically qualifies as organic. Contact Oterra's sales team to identify which products in the portfolio are suitable for an organic-certified formulation.

NutriPhy® is our range of phytonutrients. They are high-quality concentrations of plant compounds well known to support good health. We sell them to dietary supplement manufacturers. See more here.

Many of our products are made from the same raw materials that we use in our natural colors, such as turmeric, grape or blackcurrant. When we use them in our natural food color products, we standardize our products to the color pigment. When we use them in our NutriPhy range of dietary supplement products, we standardize our products to the active compounds or phytochemicals. We follow a strict standardization process to help ensure quality control and consistency in manufacturing. Every NutriPhy production batch is tested and certified.

Simply Brown is Oterra's clean-label brown coloring made from apples. It gives manufacturers a natural brown shade without relying on synthetic caramel colors or artificial dyes.

Jungle Blue is a natural blue color Oterra sources from jagua fruit grown in Colombian tropical forests. It's one of the plant-based alternatives Oterra offers to manufacturers who want to replace synthetic blue dyes.

Arctic Blue is one of Oterra's newer natural blue color options, developed as part of the company's ongoing work to expand the range of sustainable, plant-based blue shades available to manufacturers beyond existing sources like jagua.

I-Colors® Bold is a range within Oterra's portfolio built for more vivid, saturated shades. It expands the color-intensity options available to manufacturers who want natural colors that perform closer to synthetic dyes.

We have strict principles regarding quality and safety. All of our factories have FSCC certification. See here.

E-numbers, INS-numbers, and CNS-numbers are regulatory codes used to identify approved food additives, including colors, in different regions. E-numbers apply in the EU and EFTA, INS-numbers follow the international Codex Alimentarius system, and CNS-numbers are used in China.

E-numbers (European numbers) are the approved identification method by the EU and EFTA (European Food Safety Authority). For example, natural color from black carrot is E-163 and from turmeric is E-100.

INS-numbers (International Number System for Food Additives) are assigned by CODEX (Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX), under the United Nations. E-numbers and INS-numbers are usually the same. For example, natural color from red beet is E-162 and INS-162.

CNS-numbers stands for (Chinese Numbering Systems for Additives). China also accepts INS numbers, but there is no correlation between INS and CNS numbers. For example, color made from copper chlorophyll is INS 141i and CNS 08.153.

Labeling rules vary by region. In the US, color additives are generally listed as "color" or "color added," with nine synthetic dyes named individually. The EU distinguishes between natural colors, artificial colors, and coloring foods on labels. China follows an approach broadly similar to the US.

Here are some examples of recommended labelling.

In the USA anything that adds color to food is considered an additive, no matter how they are processed or whether they come from natural or synthetic sources. Except for the nine certified synthetic dyes and carmine, food colors do not need to be specifically named on ingredients labels and can simply be listed as “color added.”

The EU differentiates between artificial colors, natural colors and coloring foods. Artificial and natural colors are considered additives and are therefore assigned an E-number. Ingredients lists must include the specific name or E-number. Coloring foods are not considered an additive, so they are listed on ingredients labels simply as, for example “red beet concentrate.”

China is like the USA in that they do not recognize coloring foods and don’t differentiate between natural and artificial food colors. All colors are assigned a CNS number. Ingredients labels are similar to EU, where each color must be listed by their specific name or by their class name and CNS or INS number.

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX), under the United Nations, assigns an INS number (International Number System for Food Additives), which tends to be the same number as the EU’s E-number. Many countries adopt CODEX as their baseline regulatory guidance and use their national regulatory bodies to create exceptions to CODEX.

It isn’t realistic for consumers to remember all numbers when they are reading ingredients labels, but they are easy to identify via a simple internet search. In markets where the ingredients label does not differentiate between natural and artificial colors, it can be difficult for food manufacturers to communicate that their products contain natural food colors. It’s even more difficult if the term “natural” may not be used in front pack claims, as in USA and China. If a manufacturer uses natural colors, they will normally make the information available on their website.

Food safety regulators base their guidance on national legislation, international frameworks from bodies such as the UN and WHO, published scientific research, and input from industry associations like NatCol, the natural food colors association.

NatCol is a global association that often provides scientific evaluations and input to regulatory bodies on exposure levels, safety profiles, and more.

Botanicals are plants that have therapeutic properties. Phytonutrients are the substances in the plant that promote good health. Nutraceuticals are the kinds of food products that deliver the health-promoting benefits, like dietary supplements or functional foods. Read more details here.

Nearly all our products are vegetarian and certified kosher and halal. See more here. They also have extensive documentation as your assurance of quality. Documents are available for download when you order online. If you are not a customer already, contact us for specific information.

Oterra sells to food and beverage manufacturers, not individual consumers. If you're a manufacturer, you can purchase through Oterra's direct sales team or through one of its authorized market partners, depending on your region. Reach out and we’ll be sure to contact you.

Oterra sells in nearly all countries, either directly or through market partners, with a small number of exceptions due to international trade restrictions. Contact Oterra's sales team to confirm current availability in your specific market.

Submit an inquiry through Oterra's contact form describing your product and production requirements. Sharing details like your application, processing conditions, and target shade helps Oterra's team match you with the most suitable sample.

When you are working with us for the first time about a color product, we will support your lab and pilot tests until you approve the color for production. Once Oterra natural food colors are part of your production, you can easily re-order them online.

Natural colors are generally more expensive than synthetic dyes because they're derived from plant and other natural raw materials, which involve more complex sourcing, extraction, and processing than manufacturing a synthetic compound. Exact pricing varies by product, volume, and application, contact us for a quote