Oterra Launches ColorFruit Red Radish Powder as Natural Red 40 Alternative for US Foods

Oterra launched ColorFruit Red Radish Powder, a radish-based red color positioned as a naturally sourced alternative to FD&C Red No. 40, for US cereals, snacks and baked goods. The Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin-based natural colors producer announced the product on November 12, 2026, according to news.cision.com.

What ColorFruit Red Radish Powder Does

Oterra said the powder delivers vibrant red shades at neutral pH, a point where many natural reds struggle to perform. The company said the product holds up through baking and extrusion and maintains color throughout shelf life, with high color strength at low use levels and competitive cost-in-use.

Red 40 remains one of the most widely used synthetic color additives in the United States. Oterra said replacing it is difficult in categories where natural colors must deliver consistent results under different manufacturing conditions, keep shade integrity in finished products and meet stability and quality expectations across shelf life.

"Our customers tell us that finding a Red 40 replacement goes beyond achieving the right color in the lab. It needs to be consistent, hold up reliably in the finished product, maintain color stability throughout the product's lifecycle, and make commercial sense," said Chari Rai, Head of Innovation, North America at Oterra.

Rai added that the powder gives formulators a practical route to replace Red 40 in cereals, snacks, baked goods and frostings, and that the team in Mount Pleasant is ready to help them make that move. Oterra cited Innova Market Insights data showing approximately 70% of synthetically colored food and beverage product launches in the United States contained Red 40 in the 12 months ending October 2026, with bakery, cereals and snacks among the largest categories containing red pigments.

Oterra's Earlier Red 40 Work

According to akta.pro company records, Oterra partnered with Debut Biotech in May 2026 in a multi-million-dollar collaboration to develop and commercialize a precision-fermented natural alternative to Red 40 and other FD&C dyes, targeting FDA approval and market launch within approximately three years. The same records list reported revenues of €417 million for fiscal year 2023–24 and operations across 40+ locations serving 110+ countries and 2,200+ customers.

How Oterra Built Its Natural Color Line

In October 2026, Oterra partnered with sustainability platform HowGood to provide carbon footprints for selected natural colors in its portfolio, supporting food companies' sustainability reporting and decision-making, Food Dive reported. In July 2026, Oterra launched liquid versions of its naturally sourced Jungle Blue and Arctic Blue colorants, replacing powder-only formulations with a pumpable format designed for automated production lines, Millingmea reported.

Oterra's own product range spans colors for food, beverage, dietary supplements and pet food.