Draft:IMBAREX S.A

• Comment: In accordance with the Wikimedia Foundation's Terms of Use, I disclose that I have been paid by my employer for my contributions to this article. Ben Ten004 (talk) 10:47, 21 June 2025 (UTC)

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IMBAREX S.A. is a Peruvian company founded on 7 January 2000 and headquartered in Lima, Peru. It specializes in the production of natural colorants used in the food, beverage, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. The company's products include carmine, annatto (bixin and norbixin), paprika oleoresin, curcumin, and anthocyanins derived from purple corn.

History and Global Presence

IMBAREX was established in 2000 and began exporting its products shortly afterward. As of 2025, the company exports to over 50 countries, including the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Egypt, and Spain. It is cited in trade data and government export directories as one of Peru’s leading exporters of natural colorants.

In 2016, the company founded a European subsidiary, Imbarex Europa S.L., based in Barcelona, to expand its presence within the European Union.

Products and Applications

IMBAREX manufactures a range of natural pigments, including:

• Carmine, extracted from cochineal insects
• Annatto, containing bixin and norbixin
• Paprika oleoresin
• Curcumin, derived from turmeric
• Anthocyanins, extracted from purple corn

These pigments are used in various sectors such as:

Food and beverage: including bakery items, dairy products, confectionery, snacks, and soft drinks

Cosmetics: such as lipsticks, creams, and powders

Pharmaceuticals: including syrups and tablets

Pet food and nutraceuticals.

Facilities and Operations

The company operates a production facility in Peru and owns an agricultural site, Fundo Las Lomas, which is used to cultivate raw materials such as cochineal and annatto. IMBAREX also maintains storage and distribution centers in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Spain to facilitate global logistics and supply chain management.

Recognition and Industry Role

IMBAREX is listed in the ADEX Export Directory and regularly appears in Peruvian trade and export promotion publications. According to Perú Exporta Magazine, the company is one of the top Peruvian exporters of natural food ingredients.

In 2023, La República reported increasing international demand for IMBAREX's natural pigments, highlighting interest from food companies seeking alternatives to synthetic dyes. Similarly, El Comercio covered the company's expansion into the EU market following changes in regional food additive regulations.

Context: Red Dye No. 3 Ban and the Shift Toward Natural Colorants

Overview of Red Dye No. 3

Red Dye No. 3 (erythrosine, C₂₀H₆I₄Na₂O₅) is a synthetic cherry-red dye historically used in candies, baked goods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. Although approved for use in the United States for many years, it has faced increasing scrutiny due to carcinogenic findings in animal studies.

Regulatory Changes in 2025

On 15 January 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a ban on Red Dye No. 3 in food and ingested pharmaceutical products. The ban is scheduled to take effect on 15 January 2027 for food and 18 January 2028 for pharmaceuticals, citing the Delaney Clause and safety concerns.

Red Dye No. 3 is already banned or restricted in the European Union, Australia, and parts of Canada. The move was supported by advocacy groups such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

Rising Demand for Natural Alternatives

In response to regulatory changes and growing health concerns, the demand for natural colorants—such as carmine, annatto, curcumin, beetroot, purple corn extract, and paprika oleoresin—has increased globally. Companies like IMBAREX, which produce plant- and insect-derived alternatives, have experienced greater interest from manufacturers in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical sectors.