Company: Diana Food North America

Website: www.diana-food.com

Ingredient Snapshot: Teresa Kilgore, category manager, sweet and beverage at Diana Food North America, announced that the company has launched a new line of organic colors for foods and beverages. These colors, which represent an extension of the company’s existing coloring solutions, derive from natural ingredients that are carefully sourced by Diana’s dedicated team of agronomists—their people on the field—for optimal quality.

The colors are all non-GMO, USDA-certified organic and were created with natural integrity in mind. Ms. Kilgore notes that “the concept of ‘natural’ is the foundational principle of the company that goes back to the very beginning.”

Diana Food’s agronomy experts play a central role in ensuring that these organic colors meet the company’s standard of natural excellence that customers know and trust. The team of agronomists, based in farming areas around the world, works closely with local farmers and seed developers throughout the growing cycle to select the best available varieties for maximum color impact, those with the most vibrant shade intensity, the least color lost and least taste impact. In addition to providing a well-rounded sensory experience for the end consumer, this careful sourcing also ensures full supply chain transparency and traceability, guaranteeing food safety with ISO/FSSC certifications. Diana can map its organic color products back to their farm of origin and can even offer single-ingredient labeling.

Diana Food’s work with global food producers also allows the company to implement sustainable growing practices. Agronomists only employ agricultural methods that are socially fair and ecologically sound. They are also committed to helping trusted cultivation partners increase biodiversity by conducting three assessments per region each year.

The newly certified organic color spectrum includes a blue shade obtained from spirulina, a pink/reddish shade from red beet, and other appealing, naturally-occurring hues like yellow, orange, red and purple.

These organic colors can serve as a complementary targeted addition to confectionary, dairy, and beverage products. For customers seeking a more bespoke, custom color solution, Diana can create specialized blends by using these organic colors as a developmental toolbox for inspiration.

The new organic colors are only the latest addition to Diana’s portfolio of natural products. Ms. Kilgore added, “Diana Food has a legacy of ‘natural’ that preceded coloring foods. Our commitment to selecting the best of what nature has to offer is an accidental coincidence that works to our customers’ advantage in natural, organic colors.”