On February 8, 2025, China's updated *National Food Safety Standard for the Use of Food Additives* (GB 2760-2024) was officially implemented, triggering structural adjustments in the food additive industry. The new regulation, featuring revised definitions, deleted additive varieties, and optimized usage rules, primarily affects three types of enterprises while driving the industry toward compliance, safety, and green development.
I. Preservative-Dependent Enterprises Face Technological Upgrades
Enterprises relying on preservatives for shelf-life extension, such as canned food and beverage producers, are significantly impacted. The new standard removes permission for preservative use in canned foods, forcing relevant enterprises to adopt physical preservation technologies like high-temperature sterilization and aseptic packaging, potentially increasing production costs in the short term. Additionally, restrictions on certain preservatives in vinegar and fruit/vegetable juices have been lifted, requiring enterprises to re-verify the safety and shelf-life of preservative-free formulations.
II. Traditional Colorant Manufacturers Accelerate Product Substitution
Artificial colorants like Basella rubra red and Buddleja officinalis yellow have been banned due to "insufficient technological necessity." Confectionery and pastry enterprises must switch to natural alternatives such as gardenia yellow and curcumin. Demand for natural colorants is projected to grow by 15%, but enterprises need to complete stability testing and consumer taste adaptation. Small and medium-sized manufacturers may face elimination due to limited technical capabilities.
III. Compound Additive Enterprises Need to Master Total Quantity Control Technology
The new standard introduces, for the first time, total quantity requirements for "combined use of sweeteners in the same food category." Enterprises producing compound sweeteners must precisely control formulation ratios. For example, pastry manufacturers using both aspartame and sucralose must strictly calculate combined dosages to avoid exceeding limits. Leading enterprises with intelligent compounding technologies will gain market advantages.
Industry Response and Regulatory Dynamics
Enterprises must complete three tasks within three months: adjust raw material procurement lists to eliminate banned substances, update product labels to align with additive names and dosages, and invest in R&D for adaptive technologies (e.g., microbial fermentation preservatives and natural extract colorants). Market regulators have launched "unannounced inspections," with non-compliant enterprises facing severe penalties.
The implementation of GB 2760-2024 marks a new phase of "precision, safety, and green development" for China’s food additive industry. Compliance and innovation have become critical for enterprise survival and sustainable growth.
