Frutarom Natural Solutions, a division of International Flavors & Fragrances, has received organic certification for its natural annatto colour. The ingredient was granted organic certifications from both the US Department of Agriculture and The European Organic Certifiers Council. Annatto seeds and extracts have been used for more than a century in Europe and North America to provide a yellow to reddish colour to foods and beverages. To support the certification, Frutarom registered and trained more than 50 annatto seed farmers in the Quillabamba Valley in Cuzco, Peru and in Codo del Pozuzo in Puerto Inca, Peru. The division also meets all organic regulations while ensuring fair salaries to the growers. Frutarom maintains full traceability on the growing and harvesting processes to provide a pure, organic annatto colour. “Organic colours are an integral part of the established clean label trend, meaning that the colours support our customers’ efforts to satisfy consumer needs,” said Yoni Glickman, president, natural product solutions of IFF Frutarom. “Organic certification has become the standard of the industry, especially as it involves all aspects of growing, harvesting, extracting, and maintaining full traceability of the ingredient, from seed to final product.” Frutarom has selected agricultural land free of prohibited chemical inputs for its natural solutions products business. The farmers it works with use non-GMO seeds, and do not use synthetic fertilisers, antibiotics, pesticides, or hormones. “It is all about caring and staying loyal to consumers’ expectations for better-for-you products that are also eco-friendly and help us to protect the environment,” said Ilanit Bar-Zeev, vice president, natural product solutions of IFF Frutarom.
Frutarom Natural Solutions has received organic certification from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the European Organic Certifiers Council (EOCC) for its natural annatto colour. Derived from seeds of the achiote tree, annatto produces a yellow to reddish colour. The company is also certified by the Australian Food Standards Authority (AFSA) as an Organically Grown Company (OGC). The International Flavors & Fragrances subsidiary also ensures the farmers receive fair pay and that the product has full traceability.