Givaudan expands portfolio of natural blue colours with newly approved Everzure™ Galdieria 

U.S.A. – Givaudan Sense Colour’s Everzure™ Galdieria, developed in partnership with French biotech company Fermentalg, has recently received FDA approval for use in food and beverages, marking a significant milestone in natural colour innovation.

Everzure™ Galdieria is a natural, phycocyanin-based blue colour, derived from the microalgae Galdieria sulphuraria using a patented water extraction process. It comes in as an alternative to the synthetic Blue 1 colorant.

Similar in pigment profile to the cyanobacteria Spirulina, a phycocyanin is a pigment-protein complex that works alongside chlorophyll in photosynthesis, enhancing oxygen production under low-light conditions.

In the absence of enough light, they grow heterotrophically (getting their energy from nutrients, like carbohydrates). 

This dual-mode adaptability and their ability to survive the harshest environments, with niche ecosystems of acidic hot springs and volcanic calderas, temperatures of above 40ºC and pH levels below 4.0, make the color produced by Galdieria sulphuraria more acid stable than Spirulina’s. 

“Until now, achieving vibrant blues in low pH applications, such as candies and soft drinks, using natural colours was a major obstacle for manufacturers. Everzure™ Galdieria offers a natural option with a vibrancy that mirrors Blue 1, allowing our customers to create enticing food experiences without compromising on naturalness,” says Nathalie Pauleau, Global Product Manager for Givaudan Sense Colour.

That makes it an excellent source for low pH applications like beverages, sugar confections, and the likes of gelatin, pectin gummies, acid chews, fruity syrups, and other frozen novelties.

“This new blue colour is the result of more than five years of close collaboration with Fermentalg. It represents a significant milestone in our ongoing work in the biotech space. Natural ingredients developed with the help of biotechnology hold the promise of delivering better, cleaner and more enticing food experiences for consumers,” says Raja Chouket, Category Technical Lead for Sense Colour.

Sustainable color through controlled heterotrophic fermentation

Everzure™ Galdieria is sustainably produced via controlled fermentation, leveraging Fermentalg’s expertise in blue biotechnology and precision fermentation. 

Through controlled, closed-system fermentation, Galdieria sulphuraria is cultivated in sterile bioreactors without light. Instead of relying on photosynthesis, the microalgae are fed a sugar-based nutrient source, which fuels growth but does not contribute sugar to the final product.

Once the culture reaches optimal density, the phycocyanin pigment is gently extracted using water, yielding a high-quality colourant in either liquid or powdered form.

Why controlled heterotrophic fermentation?

Heterotrophic fermentation offers several advantages over traditional cultivation methods. 

Closed bioreactor systems provide a sterile, highly controlled environment that minimizes contamination risk and ensures consistent product quality. 

With carefully managed temperature, pH, and nutrient inputs, the process enables high biomass yields in less time than conventional methods.

This method is also environmentally efficient as it doesn’t require extensive land use and consumes minimal water and power. It supports sustainable, scalable production, crucial for meeting the growing global demand for clean-label ingredients.

Givaudan Sense Colour

Givaudan Sense Colour was officially launched in January 2024 after the acquisitions of Naturex in 2018 and DDW The Color House in 202.

It is a division of Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing that is dedicated solely to supporting customers with their natural colour needs and complements Givaudan’s vast portfolio of flavours and botanicals.  

This approval by the US FDA marks the first authorisation for use in food and beverages, with additional petitions in process in Europe and the UK. 

Everzure™ Galdieria is currently available for sampling in the US, with production scale-up beginning in the second half of 2025.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.