Why Colours Matter in Analogue Meat?
Analogue meat – also called plant-based meat or mock meat – is designed to look, taste, and feel like real meat. For consumers, appearance is the first thing they notice, and colour plays a big role in whether a product feels authentic or not.
If the shade isn’t right – for example, if a burger looks too pale or a sausage doesn’t brown well when cooked – it can turn buyers away, even if the taste and texture are good. This is where synthetic food grade colours make a difference.
They help give analogue meat that fresh, meaty look people expect, whether it’s the pinkish-red of raw patties, the golden-brown of grilled pieces, or the rich roasted tones of cooked products. Synthetic colours also provide consistency, which means every batch looks the same, building trust with consumers and helping brands scale confidently.
Where Synthetic Colours Are Used in Analogue Meat?
Synthetic food colours play a key role in making analogue meat look appetising and close to real meat. They’re not just about appearance – they also help brands create consistency and consumer trust. Here’s where they are commonly used:
- Raw-style analogue meat: To create a fresh, red or pink shade that mimics raw beef, chicken, or lamb alternatives.
- Cooked analogue meat: Colours are used to shift shades from red to golden-brown or darker tones, imitating the natural browning effect of grilling, frying, or roasting.
- Processed analogue meat: Products like sausages, nuggets, patties, kebabs, or deli slices use synthetic colours to maintain uniform appearance across large batches.
- Blended analogue meat: Hybrid recipes that mix plant proteins, grains, and oils need colour adjustment so the final product looks closer to meat and not dull or grey.
- Marinated or flavoured analogue meat: Colours help bring out vibrant tones in barbecue, spicy, or smoked variants to match flavour expectations.
Supported Synthetic Food Colors in Analogue Meat Products
True Color, True Taste
Water Soluble Colors for Analogue Meat Products
Allura Red
Allura Red AC is a water-soluble dye for Plant-based meat products, giving a bright red to orangish-red shade that blends evenly for fresh, appealing colour.
Pure dye content (corrected sample): minimum 85%
Water-insoluble matter: maximum 0.20%
Amaranth
Amaranth is a water-soluble dye for analogue meat products, giving a reddish-brown shade that blends well and adds depth without overpowering.
Pure dye content (corrected sample): minimum 87%
Water-insoluble matter: maximum 0.20%
Brown HT
Brown HT, also called Chocolate Brown HT, is a dye for analogue meat products, giving a rich dark brown shade similar to cocoa or caramel.
Pure dye content (corrected sample): minimum 70%
Water-insoluble matter: maximum 0.20%
Carmoisine
Carmoisine is a red food dye for Vegetarian meat products, giving a bright red to maroon shade and ensuring consistent colour in beverages, bakery items, and dairy desserts.
Pure dye content (corrected sample): minimum 87%
Water-insoluble matter: maximum 0.20%
Black PN
Black PN is a purplish-black dye for vegetarian meat products, giving a clean, deep blackish-violet shade that stays consistent across various uses.
Pure dye content (corrected sample): minimum 80%
Water-insoluble matter: maximum 0.20%
Green S
Green S is a synthetic food dye for analogue meat and beverage products, giving a bright bluish-green shade and ensuring stable colour in confectionery, and bakery items.
Pure dye content (corrected sample): minimum 80%
Water-insoluble matter: maximum 0.20%
Tartrazine
Tartrazine is a water-soluble food dye for analogue meat products, giving a bright lemon-yellow shade in beverages, snacks, confectionery, and bakery items.
Pure dye content (corrected sample): minimum 80%
Water-insoluble matter: maximum 0.20%
Quinoline Yellow WS
Quinoline Yellow WS is a water-soluble food dye for faux meat products, giving a greenish-yellow shade in beverages, confectionery, sauces, and bakery items.
Pure dye content (corrected sample): minimum 70%
Water-insoluble matter: maximum 0.20%
Ponceau 4R
Ponceau 4R is a red dye for mock meat products, giving a dark red shade that blends smoothly for consistent, appealing colour.
Pure dye content (corrected sample): minimum 85%
Water-insoluble matter: maximum 0.20%
Sunset Yellow
Sunset Yellow is a water-soluble dye for analogue meat products, giving a bright yellow to orange shade that blends evenly and keeps colour consistent.
Pure dye content (corrected sample): minimum 87%
Water-insoluble matter: maximum 0.20%
Lake Colors for Analogue Meat Products
Carmoisine Lake
Carmoisine Lake is a water-insoluble dye for analogue meat products, giving a red to maroon shade with strong colour and smooth performance.
Allura Red Lake
Allura Red Lake is an insoluble food dye for next generation meat products, giving a strong red shade in confectionery coatings, tablets, bakery decorations, and cosmetics.
Amaranth Lake
Amaranth Lake is an insoluble food dye for Veg meat products, giving a deep red to maroon shade in confectionery coatings, bakery decorations, tablets, and cosmetics.
Black PN Lake
Black PN Lake is an insoluble food dye for analogue meat products, giving a dark black shade in confectionery coatings, bakery decorations, tablets, and cosmetics.
Tartrazine Lake
Tartrazine Lake is an insoluble food dye for analogue meat products, giving a bright yellow shade in confectionery coatings, bakery decorations, tablets, and cosmetics.
Brown HT Lake
Brown HT Lake is an insoluble food dye for imitation meat products, giving a rich dark brown shade in confectionery coatings, bakery decorations, tablets, and cosmetics.
Sunset Yellow Lake
Sunset Yellow Lake is an insoluble food dye for plant based meat products, giving an orange-yellow shade in confectionery coatings, bakery decorations, tablets, and cosmetics.
Green - S Lake
Green S Lake is an insoluble food dye for analogue meat products, giving a bright bluish-green shade in confectionery coatings, bakery decorations, tablets, and cosmetics.
Ponceau 4R Lake
Ponceau 4R Lake is an insoluble food dye for analogue meat products, giving a bright red shade in confectionery coatings, bakery decorations, tablets, and cosmetics.
Quinoline Yellow WS Lake
Quinoline Yellow WS Lake is an insoluble food dye for vegan meat products, giving a greenish-yellow shade in confectionery coatings, bakery decorations, tablets, and cosmetics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. All our colours are food-grade and comply with international safety standards like FDA, EU, and FSSAI. They are safe for plant-based and analogue meat applications when used within recommended limits.
Absolutely. Our synthetic colours are designed to stay stable during grilling, frying, baking, and even high-pressure processing. The colour won’t fade or wash out easily.
Yes. We provide shades that mimic both raw meat tones (reds, pinks) and cooked meat browns. This helps improve the consumer experience and makes products look more natural.
Yes. We offer 50gm trial packs (sample packs) so you can test the shades and performance before placing bulk orders.
Our minimum order quantity (MOQ) is 100 kg per product for bulk supply. This helps us maintain consistent quality and competitive pricing for our partners.
Yes. If you have a specific colour tone in mind, we can customise blends to match your product requirement.
Yes. Our synthetic food grade colours are 100% vegan-friendly and contain no animal-derived ingredients.
Most synthetic colours have a shelf-life of 3–5 years when stored in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and moisture.
Yes. We export globally with full documentation support including Certificate of Origin, MSDS, and Halal certificates.
Of course. Our technical team can guide you on choosing the right shade, dosage, and application method for your analogue meat products.
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Our Experts Are Here to Guide You
Need Help Choosing the Right Ingredients?
Talk to our team to find high-quality, industry-specific color solutions tailored to your requirements.