NATCOL developed a Code of Practice to describe current industry practice and to provide support for the classification, manufacturing, use and labelling of Coloring Foods to producers and users (i.e. food industry) of Coloring Foods on the European Union market (EU), thereby helping to ensure consistency, transparency and harmonisation of practices.
This Code is intended to serve as a Business to Business support tool and must be read in conjunction with the appropriate legislation (listed in the table found in Chapter 3 of this Code), particularly Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives, especially Recital 5, Article 3 (2) (a) and Annex I (2) of this Regulation.
Labelling of “Coloring Foods” has to be in accordance with Food Information Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. The labelling needs to be clear and understandable to the consumer and should not be misleading. However, the labelling must be assessed case-by-case by the food manufacturer. Possible labelling on the ingredient list of the final food within the EU are for example “coloring food (carrot concentrate)” or “carrot concentrate”. “Coloring Foods” do not need to be designated like food color additives, i.e. by the name of their category “color” and an E-number.
“Coloring Foods” are an alternative to food color additives in case food producers/customers want a food product which is based on ingredients that consumers can easily relate to.