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The global clean-label ingredients market size was valued at USD 53.2 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 6.4 % from 2025 to 2034. Clean-label ingredients are natural and minimally processed. They do not contain artificial additives, colorants, or preservatives. These ingredients meet the growing consumer demand for transparency and align with health-conscious trends in food and beverage products.
The main reason for the growth of the clean-label ingredients industry is the increasing consumer preference for transparency. As consumers become more health-conscious, they look for products with familiar and recognizable ingredients, avoiding artificial additives. This change is directly affecting the food and beverage industry, which is reformulating products to meet clean-label standards. Manufacturers are focusing more on clean-label ingredients to build consumer trust and meet the demand for clear product labeling.
Report Attribute | Details |
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Base Year: | 2024 |
Clean-label Ingredients Market Size in 2024: | USD 53.2 Billion |
Forecast Period: | 2025 – 2034 |
Forecast Period 2025 – 2034 CAGR: | 6.4% |
2025 – 2034 Value Projection: | USD 99.3 Billion |
Historical Data for: | 2021 – 2024 |
No. of Pages: | 220 |
Tables, Charts & Figures: | 240 |
Segments covered: | Type, Form, Application |
Growth Drivers: |
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Pitfalls & Challenges: |
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The rise of plant-based and organic foods is also supporting this market shift. These types of foods are closely linked to health and environmental sustainability, which are important values for clean-label consumers. As plant-based diets become more popular, brands that produce vegan, organic, and minimally processed foods are adopting clean-label standards to meet consumer expectations. These factors together are creating a strong trend where clean-label ingredients are central to product innovation, driving growth in various food categories, and changing how the industry approaches ingredient sourcing and labeling.
There is a growing demand for natural and recognizable ingredients. Consumers are increasingly seeking products with shorter ingredient lists, free from artificial additives and chemicals. This has led to a rise in the use of natural flavors, colors, sweeteners, and preservatives in food and beverages. Beyond traditional applications like bakery and snacks, clean-label ingredients are now being used in dairy, meat, and even beverages, as manufacturers respond to the demand for healthier options across the entire food and beverage industry.
Additionally, technological advancements are enabling the development of new clean-label ingredients that can improve the shelf life, stability, and taste of products, addressing some of the challenges associated with clean labeling. Nowadays, consumers are not only concerned about what goes into their food but also how it is produced and sourced. This has increased interest in sustainably sourced and eco-friendly ingredients, contributing to the growth of organic and non-GMO options.
The clean-label ingredients market faces challenges related to cost and product formulation. Sourcing clean-label ingredients, such as organic or non-GMO options, often leads to higher production costs. These costs come from limited supply chains, strict farming practices, and more expensive quality assurance processes. As a result, these higher costs affect how manufacturers set their prices. If they pass these costs onto consumers, they may become less competitive in a market where price matters.
Additionally, keeping the taste, texture, and shelf life without using artificial preservatives or additives is difficult. Clean-label formulations often do not have the chemical stability that synthetic ingredients provide. This makes it hard to keep the product quality over time, which can lead to shorter shelf lives and the need for more frequent production cycles. These issues add more costs and make operations more complex. Therefore, manufacturers need to invest in new natural alternatives to synthetic additives. They must balance consumer demand for clean-label products with the need to maintain taste, texture, and affordability.
The market is divided by type into natural colors, natural flavors, fruit and vegetable ingredients, starch and sweeteners, flours, malt, and others. The fruit and vegetable ingredients segment led the market with a value of USD 12.9 billion in 2024. This segment includes ingredients like purees, concentrations, and extracts made from fruits and vegetables. It has become more popular because consumers want products with better nutritional content, which helps the market grow.
Another important segment is natural flavors, which offer real taste profiles from natural sources like fruits, herbs, and spices. As more consumers look for clean and tasty alternatives to synthetic additives, the demand for natural flavors has increased, giving them a significant share of the market.
The clean-label ingredients market is divided into powder and liquid forms. Powdered form segment held a dominant market share of about 54.1% in 2024. Powdered clean-label ingredients are popular because they are easy to handle, store, and use in various applications. These ingredients, such as powdered natural flavors, colors, and sweeteners, are commonly used in baking, confectionery, dry mixes, and beverage formulations.
They offer consistent dosing and often have a longer shelf life, making them a preferred choice for manufacturers. Liquid natural flavors, colors, and emulsifiers are favored in applications where even mixing or blending is important, such as in beverages, dairy products, and dressings. They are valued for providing a more authentic taste and appearance to products, helping to create appealing visual and sensory experiences.
The market is divided by application into beverages, bakery & confectionery, dairy & frozen desserts, snacks & convenience foods, and others. In 2024, the beverage industry led the market and is expected to keep growing. Clean-label ingredients are used in many beverages, such as juices, soft drinks, teas, and functional drinks. More consumers are choosing healthier beverages, which increases the demand for natural flavors, colors, and sweeteners.
The bakery and confectionery sector is another important segment for clean-label ingredients. People prefer natural ingredients in bread, pastries, cookies, and chocolates, which has increased the market share of clean-label components like natural flavors, colors, and alternative sweeteners.
U.S. clean-label ingredients market reached a revenue of USD 15.5 billion in 2024. This growth is mainly due to more consumers wanting transparency, healthier food options, and natural ingredients. As people become more aware of the risks of artificial additives, they are choosing clean-label products more often. This has led manufacturers to change their products to meet these demands. Clean-label ingredients are now a key factor in what consumers buy, helping the market grow in food, beverages, and personal care sectors.
In North America, the U.S. leads the clean-label ingredients industry, making up a large part of the region's revenue. The demand for clean-label products is supported by changing consumer preferences and healthier eating habits. The growth of plant-based foods and organic products in the U.S. also drives this trend, making the country a central hub for the clean-label movement. As manufacturers keep innovating with natural ingredients, the market in North America is expected to keep growing strongly.
These companies are expanding their market presence through strategic partnerships, launching new products, and commercializing them. Additionally, they are investing heavily in research, which allows them to introduce innovative products and maximize revenue.
Cargill Incorporated provides safe and sustainable solutions for the food, agriculture, financial, and industrial sectors. The company's value chain starts with farmers, supplying them with raw materials and other inputs. The middle stage involves processing these raw materials into finished goods. The final stage includes transporting the finished products to customers. Cargill serves various sectors, including animal nutrition, food and beverage, food services, agriculture, risk management, poultry, industrial, pharmaceutical, and transportation.
The company offers soluble fiber products like inulin, maltodextrin, and dextrose for applications in food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and animal nutrition. Cargill operates in over 70 countries and has customers in more than 125 countries.
Major players operating in the clean-label ingredients industry are:
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