Butterfly Peas Bloom in Snacks: FDA's Colorful Approval
Published Date: 5/12/2025
Rule
Summary
The FDA just gave a thumbs-up to using butterfly pea flower extract as a natural color in snacks like cereals, chips, and pretzels. This means snack makers can now safely add this cool blue-purple color without extra certification, as long as they follow good manufacturing rules. Snack lovers and food companies get a fresh, fun look with no extra costs or delays!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Food Makers Allowed New Natural Color
The FDA amended color additive rules to allow the use of butterfly pea flower extract as a color additive exempt from certification in ready-to-eat cereals, crackers, snack mixes, hard pretzels, plain potato chips (restructured or baked), and plain corn, tortilla, and multigrain chips. Manufacturers may use it at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice (GMP).
Consumers May See New Blue‑Purple Snacks
You may start seeing butterfly pea flower extract used as a natural blue‑purple color in ready-to-eat cereals, crackers, snack mixes, hard pretzels, plain potato chips (restructured or baked), and plain corn, tortilla, and multigrain chips. The FDA cleared these uses as safe when used at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice (GMP).
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