Transforming plant-based fish with plant-based colours

“Demand for seafood is projected to outstrip supply in the coming years[iii], and the market for plant-based alternatives is starting to gain real momentum. It’s now possible to buy vegan seafood products from scampi and salmon steaks to tinned tuna and caviar.”

“With the range and quality of options now on offer, consumers are really starting to take notice. There are plenty of reasons for consumers to explore seafood substitutes. For example, nearly seven million people in the U.S. alone are allergic to shellfish[iv], and fish is also among the FDA’s top eight major food allergens.[v]”

“With the arrival of the plant-based 2.0 era, though, it is now more important than ever to ensure products have clean labels,” explains Gilot. “Datassential has found that 49 % of shoppers choose plant-based products over animal alternatives because they’re healthier[ix], while FMCG Gurus research shows seven out of ten say it’s important that meat substitute products are 100% naturally formulated.[x]”

“Products also need to look as appetizing as possible while advertising their clean and healthy credentials prominently. A front-of-pack claim showing that a plant-based fish product contains no artificial ingredients, for example, can really help dispel concerns among sceptical consumers.”

“Our experts have developed solutions that enable manufacturers to deliver uber-realistic colouring solutions in plant-based fish using EXBERRY®. As a result, it’s possible to create products such as salmon steaks with glazing while maintaining completely clean and clear labels.”

“We recently extended our range of Brilliant Orange products to include powder and oil-dispersible formats as well as the existing liquid. They’re all made from paprika and carrot, so they’re perfect for a range of savoury applications, including plant-based fish.”

“While we’re not giving anything away yet, our LOVE COLOR 2021 prediction is a perfect option for many savoury plant-based products,” he says.

“We’ll also be highlighting opportunities in the plant-based seafood market, helping attendees to understand consumer expectations and the importance of clean labels. We’ll show how we can help manufacturers overcome the technical challenges that can arise when using clean-label colours, to create truly spectacular plant-based seafood.”