This transition is crucial for preventing the rapid oxidation and spoilage of plant-based color sources, addressing new FDA regulations, and offering a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to traditional liquid nitrogen delivery.
The food industry is undergoing a significant transformation as major corporations race to comply with new regulatory mandates and consumer demands to eliminate petroleum-based synthetic food dyes. Leading this charge is Purity Gas Inc., a provider of engineered on-site nitrogen gas generation systems, which has secured a massive $44-million contract with a top-tier food and beverage corporation to rapidly deploy its technology across dozens of facilities in Canada and the U.S.
This large-scale rollout highlights the critical role of nitrogen gas in the food manufacturing pivot. Synthetic dyes, currently found in products ranging from breakfast cereals to salty snacks and candy, do more than just add color; they also help slow down oxidation, which maintains product stability and freshness. With the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcing new measures in April 2025 to phase out these petroleum-based additives—including a December 31, 2026, deadline for the elimination of six common dyes like Red No. 40 and Yellow No. 5 and No. 6—manufacturers face a pressing preservation challenge.
The shift to natural, plant-based colorings is not simple, as these sources are highly sensitive to oxygen. Exposure causes rapid oxidation, leading to faded color, altered flavor, and a drastically reduced shelf life. The solution, according to Purity Gas, is to leverage the non-reactive properties of nitrogen gas. By replacing the oxygen inside food packaging, such as a bag of chips or a cereal box, with nitrogen, food can stay fresher for longer, regardless of the coloring used. This process, known as Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) or simply using nitrogen as an inert blanket, is essential for preserving the integrity of the new natural ingredients.
Purity Gas co-founder Alan Hopkins emphasizes that this moment of regulatory change is the ideal time for food giants to transition to on-site, on-demand nitrogen gas generation. “On site generation allows companies to ensure they have a reliable, cost-effective source to meet increasing demand related to packaging and preservation efforts,” Hopkins stated. The company’s custom-designed, modular NITROCENTER® system, which can be housed inside a plant or within an external NitroVault™ enclosure, empowers clients to control their own high-purity nitrogen flow.
This approach directly addresses the inefficiencies and environmental impact of the traditional method: the delivery of tanks of liquid nitrogen from third-party bulk suppliers.
With major brands like Kellogg, Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo./Frito-Lay, and Nestle USA already publicly committing to eliminating these additives, the demand for reliable nitrogen solutions is skyrocketing.
