The search for natural alternatives to synthetic dyes has intensified, particularly for the color blue. Spirulina, a blue-green cyanobacterium, offers a solution with its pigment, phycocyanin.
This naturally derived colorant has gained popularity due to its vibrant blue hue, safety profile, and clean-label appeal. It is increasingly used in a variety of applications, including confections, beverages, and dairy, providing a viable substitute for artificial blue colorants in the food industry.
Why Replace Synthetic Dyes with Spirulina Blue?
Historically, artificial blue dyes have been associated with health concerns, prompting regulatory bodies and consumers to seek safer, natural alternatives. Spirulina extract, or phycocyanin, offers a viable solution.
Approved by the US FDA in 2013 for use in candies and gum, spirulina’s blue hue has since expanded to a broader range of food products. The demand for natural blue has grown, and Spirulina blue has become the primary alternative in the market, offering a sky-blue to ocean-blue color comparable to synthetic Brilliant Blue (Blue #1).
Spirulina blue is widely used in confections, frozen desserts, drink mixes, and powders. It has even found application in dairy products and cereals. Furthermore, the natural blue colorant is stable when used in products that are not subjected to heat or low pH environments, making it suitable for a wide variety of applications.
Suppliers of Spirulina Blue
1. DIC Corporation (Japan) / Earthrise Nutritionals (USA)
DIC Corporation, a Japanese chemical giant, is the world’s largest producer of spirulina, through its subsidiary Earthrise Nutritionals in California. They operate a large spirulina farm in the California desert, taking advantage of year-round sunlight to cultivate algae.
DIC developed LINABLUE, one of the first spirulina-based colorants to gain regulatory approval in the US, EU, and Asia. This high-purity phycocyanin extract is renowned for its quality and consistency. DIC’s vertically integrated process ensures reliable production, from culture to extract, even amidst the challenges of climate variability.
Technical Insights: DIC has focused on stabilizing phycocyanin and extending its shelf life, making LINABLUE a dependable option for various food applications.
Product: LINABLUE (Spirulina Blue) – LINABLUE is a natural blue food color derived from phycocyanin in spirulina, which can be mixed with other colors to create shades like green and purple. Spirulina, a resilient microalgae that has existed for 3 billion years, is rich in nutrients like protein, vitamins, and minerals, making it a valuable supplement for health foods and other applications.
2. Parry Nutraceuticals (India)
Parry Nutraceuticals, a part of EID Parry, is a major producer of spirulina based in Tamil Nadu, India.
Known for its organically grown spirulina, Parry has built a solid global reputation for high-quality spirulina extracts, including phycocyanin. Their spirulina is cultivated in open-air ponds under ideal climatic conditions, which allow for year-round production.
Parry has extensive experience in the nutraceutical market and is scaling up its production to meet the growing demand for natural colorants. They offer food-grade spirulina extract with certifications like ISO and Halal.
Technical Insights: Parry ensures the purity of their spirulina by eliminating contaminants, such as microcystins, and producing food-safe products suitable for a wide range of applications.
Product: Spirulina Phycocyanin Extract
3. Sensient Technologies (USA)
Sensient Technologies is a leading global provider of color solutions, including a wide array of spirulina-based colorants.
While Sensient does not farm spirulina directly, it sources high-quality extracts from reputable producers, such as Earthrise, among others. They specialize in stabilizing spirulina blue and creating customized blends, such as spirulina combined with turmeric for a natural green color.
Sensient is known for its innovative approach to color formulation and can supply spirulina-based colors in both liquid and powder forms, ensuring versatility for various food and beverage applications.
Technical Insights: Sensient’s expertise in stabilizing spirulina and developing custom color solutions enables it to meet the growing demand for clean-label products.
Product: Spirulina Blue and Green Colorants
4. GNT Group (Netherlands)
GNT Group is a well-established supplier of natural colorants, including spirulina-based concentrates under the EXBERRY brand. They cultivate spirulina under controlled conditions, producing a deep blue liquid and powder for use in the food industry.
GNT’s focus is on providing “Coloring Foods” that are clean-label and free from artificial additives, making their spirulina concentrates popular in European markets, especially in confectionery and beverages. GNT has been a pioneer in the European adoption of spirulina-based colorants.
Technical Insights: GNT’s expertise in formulating spirulina-based colors ensures that their products meet high-quality standards and can endure processes like pasteurization.
Product: EXBERRY Spirulina Concentrate
5. DDW (USA) – Now Givaudan Colors
DDW, now part of Givaudan, was quick to introduce spirulina-based colorants following FDA approval. They specialize in creating custom color solutions, particularly for beverages and dairy, where they offer spirulina emulsions.
DDW has contributed significantly to the expansion of regulatory approval for spirulina, and its deep understanding of application data helps guide clients in using spirulina effectively. The company has also pioneered the use of spirulina in large-scale consumer products, such as Starbucks’ Unicorn Frappuccino.
Technical Insights: DDW’s spirulina emulsions help overcome the pigment’s natural instability in acidic environments, ensuring reliable performance in a variety of formulations.
Product: Spirulina Blue and Green Colors
6. Zhejiang Binmei Biotechnology (China)
Zhejiang Binmei Biotechnology, based in Hangzhou, is a leading Chinese supplier of high-purity phycocyanin. Since its founding in 2013, Binmei has rapidly grown its presence in the global market, offering spirulina extract for use in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
The company emphasizes high-quality, consistent production, with products that are 100% water-soluble and dissolve quickly. Binmei also offers specialized blends of spirulina for enhanced stability, and their products are competitively priced for global markets.
Technical Insights: Binmei provides detailed stability guidelines and technical support to help clients properly handle and incorporate phycocyanin into their formulations.
Product: High-Purity Phycocyanin Extract
7. Fermentalg (France)
Fermentalg is a biotech company based in France that cultivates microalgae in bioreactors, an innovative approach that allows for better control over pigment production.
Fermentalg is developing a new generation of natural blue pigments, including Galdieria blue, which offers improved stability in acidic environments compared to spirulina. Their fermentation method enables a more sustainable and scalable approach to producing natural colorants.
Fermentalg’s Galdieria blue is particularly promising for applications in acidic beverages, an area where spirulina traditionally faces challenges.
Technical Insights: Fermentalg’s closed fermentation process allows for greater control over pigment purity and stability, positioning them as a key player in the next generation of natural blues.
Product: Galdieria Blue (Galdieria Extract)
8. San-Ei Gen F.F.I. (Japan)
San-Ei Gen, a Japanese company with decades of experience in the food color industry, was one of the first to commercialize spirulina blue in Japan. In partnership with DIC Corporation, San-Ei Gen co-branded LINABLUE for international markets.
They specialize in providing high-quality spirulina blue to Japanese confectionery and beverage companies, ensuring that their products meet the highest standards of stability and solubility. San-Ei Gen’s contributions have been instrumental in gaining regulatory acceptance for spirulina in multiple regions.
Technical Insights: San-Ei Gen’s extensive history in color formulation enables them to provide high-quality spirulina extracts and ensure seamless transitions for companies transitioning from synthetic to natural colorants.
Product: Spirulina Blue (LINABLUE)
9. Cyanotech (USA)
Cyanotech, based in Kona, Hawaii, is recognized for its high-quality spirulina, primarily produced for the health supplement market. However, the company also extracts phycocyanin for use as a natural colorant.
Cyanotech’s location in Hawaii provides ideal conditions for spirulina cultivation, resulting in a consistently high-quality product. While they are not major players in the colorant industry, their spirulina is used in niche markets and serves as a backup supply for pigment extractors.
Technical Insights: Cyanotech’s spirulina is carefully cultivated to maximize pigment content, ensuring a high-quality, food-safe source of phycocyanin.
Product: Spirulina Phycocyanin
Conclusion
Spirulina blue (phycocyanin) has revolutionized the natural food colorant market, offering an alternative to synthetic dyes that does not compromise on vibrancy or safety.
Despite some limitations, such as sensitivity to heat, light, and pH, its adoption is increasing across multiple sectors, including confections, beverages, dairy, and more. The growth of spirulina blue suppliers globally, combined with ongoing innovations in stability and formulation, positions it as a key player in the clean-label, natural color space.
As the industry moves toward more sustainable and consumer-friendly options, spirulina blue remains at the forefront of natural food colorants. R&D teams and product developers will find an increasing array of suppliers and innovations to help integrate this remarkable colorant into their products, meeting both regulatory standards and consumer demands for natural ingredients.
Ready to make the switch to natural blue? Fill out the form now to connect with top suppliers and elevate your products with Spirulina Blue!
