Lonza has announced the first of a new line of internationally available plant-coloured supplement capsules, under its Capsugel Vcaps brand.

Previously the capsule shells required an E-number. The company says that the new food coloured capsules – labelled as natural colourants in the United States – will allow customers to create “bright, eye-catching supplements that also appeal to consumers seeking improved supply chain transparency and a natural positioning”.

The first of the next-generation clean label solutions to be marketed worldwide is the Vcaps Plus Purple Carrot capsule, following the successful introduction of the Vcaps Plus Blue Spirulina capsule in Europe earlier this year. The high-performance capsule shell is made using plant-based hypromellose (HPMC) and water only, without any preservatives. A colourant derived from purple carrots is used to match the desired shade as closely as possible, while maintaining a natural appearance in the finished supplement.

“Demand for natural solutions to help maintain health remains strong. As a pioneer in vegetarian capsules, we closely monitor consumer trends and continue to evolve our Capsugel clean-label dosage form capabilities according to the latest preferences,” said Stephane Vouche, marketing manager, consumer health & nutrition, Lonza. 

“Our research shows that seven out of ten shoppers seek supplements with no artificial colours. After several years in the pipeline, we are now launching the industry’s first line of clean-label capsule colorants in response to heightened consumer interest in the stories behind the supplements they purchase.”

“In today’s online world, image is everything. This latest innovation helps our customers establish unique brand identities, that encompass both on-trend, true-to-nature colours and a complete clear and clean label,” Vouche added.

The new colorants are an extension to the existing Capsugel clean-label dosage form portfolio, which is designed to offer optimal performance across a wide range of power and liquid formulations. Permitted on-pack wording varies by region and Lonza has a team of experts that are on hand to assist customers in meeting regulatory restrictions and understanding local nuances in consumer labelling preferences.

About the author: Jim Mason

Jim Manson is editor-in-chief of Diversified Communications UK‘s natural and organic publishing portfolio. He’s written widely on environment and development issues for specialist magazines and national media, including the Financial Times, The Guardian, The Times, and World Bank Urban Age.

About Natural Products Global

Natural Products Global is the one-stop global resource for natural and organic industry professionals. Built around an editorially independent daily news service it delivers a compelling mix of news, business insights and analysis. Building a natural and organic future by connecting people and growing businesses – subscribe for more articles like this