Natural and Clean-label coatings are now becoming more and more requested in the food supplements industry. Nowadays consumers are being sensitive to the type of components present in their products. As a consequence the need for clean-label ingredients such as natural or titanium dioxide free coloring agents is increasing.
For formulators, that consumer’s expectation comes with challenges but also opportunities.
Challenges linked to the formulation without titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide is a well known additive known for its high whitening and opacifying power. Its removal would then have an impact on the film coatings’ aesthetics.
For the titanium dioxide free film coatings, the main challenges will be on the tablet coverage and also on the color or white brightness.
For a reformulation of a colored titanium dioxide free coating, three key parameters must be taken into consideration:
- The type of coloring agent/pigment used (foodstuff, soluble dyes…)
- The level of dilution needed to obtain some light shades, which can impact the stability to daylight
- The level of coverage expected based on the core appearance.
