Trace food-color requirements to the destination’s official sources

Keep markets and evidence distinct

China’s GB 2760, US FDA color rules and EU official resources illustrate different destination-specific review routes. It does not give approval for a specific commercial product in any of these jurisdictions. “Natural,” “plant-derived” and a supplier trade name do not establish permission for a particular food.

Begin with the sales market, product, food category and intended coloring purpose. Different jurisdictions may use different names, numbering systems, categories, specifications and labels. A conclusion from China must not be transferred to the US or EU, or vice versa.

Identify what is being reviewed

Split the supplier product into coloring ingredients, carriers, other components and specification details. A blend or concentrated commercial grade may not map one-to-one to a single official entry. Use formal names, synonyms and identifiers as search aids, then open the original entry.

Read the food categories, use conditions, relevant specifications and labeling requirements. A substance appearing in a list does not mean it is usable in every food or for every purpose. A search with no result may reflect an identity or category mismatch rather than prohibition.

Capture a traceable review

• Define destination, product, food category and intended function.
• Obtain complete supplier composition and specification information.
• Search the target market’s official source using formal names, synonyms and identifiers.
• Read the original entry’s category, conditions, specification and label requirements.
• Retain URL, version or announcement number, access date, search terms and an extract or screenshot.
• Have the responsible regulatory person review, and reopen the assessment when formula, label, market or supplier changes.

Minimum four-part evidence chain

• A: supplier specification and complete composition.
• B: original official entry or list for the destination.
• C: field-by-field mapping to the actual food category, purpose, conditions and label.
• D: dated approval record with the evidence version and responsible reviewer.
• If any part is missing, retain “pending regulatory review.” Search snippets, a supplier’s spoken statement or another market’s decision cannot fill the gap.

Maintain a practical review table

Keep six columns: destination market, formal identity, food category, conditions, labeling and evidence version. Use announcements, regulations and official databases as evidence; secondary articles can lead the search but do not replace the original text.

Do not auto-fill unconfirmed numerical uses or publish a specific dose from an unresolved review. Recheck after a supplier, formula, market or rule-version change. Old screenshots require context and an access date rather than indefinite reuse. Technical feasibility, editorial explanation and a responsible regulatory approval are different outputs.

Before commercial use

Confirm the exact product through supplier documentation, real-formula trials, pilot and shelf-life validation, and destination-market review. Process settings and use levels depend on that assessment.