The global clean-label ingredients market is estimated to account for USD 57.3 billion in 2025. It is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 15.5% during the forecast period and reach a value of USD 212.4 billion by 2035.
| Attributes | Description |
|---|---|
| Estimated Global Clean-label Ingredients Market Size (2025E) | USD 57.3 Billion |
| Projected Global Clean-label Ingredients Market Value (2035F) | USD 212.4 Billion |
| Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 15.5% |
The clean-label ingredients are natural, minimally processed food ingredients free of artificial coloring, preservatives, and additives. Clean-label ingredients prioritize openness by simplifying and making ingredient lists easily recognized by customers. The market for clean-label components is expanding quickly due to shifting customer preferences for ethical, transparent, and healthy products.
Growing health consciousness, preference for sustainable and non-GMO food options, and significant push for product transparency has enlarged the industry landscape. Food and beverage, health and wellness, and organic items are among the sectors expanding in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. As a result, clean-label products have emerged as the mainstay of the global food market, catering to customers who are growing more conscious of environmental and health issues.
The pricing of clean-label components might vary significantly based on the type and grade of the product. For example, because of the more complex sourcing and processing needed, plant-based proteins, such as those from hemp or peas, are often more expensive, ranging from USD 15 to USD 70 per kilogram. Likewise, natural flavors and sweeteners that replace synthetic options tend to be priced higher, especially when organic or sustainably sourced.
On the other hand, ingredients such as natural starches and essential stabilizers or emulsifiers are more affordable, with prices typically ranging from USD 4 to USD 25 per kilogram. Although less costly, these components meet clean-label requirements, making them more affordable for producers looking to provide clean-label goods. The clean-label sector is frequently characterized by premium pricing for higher-quality, specialized ingredients, even though prices fluctuate depending on sourcing, processing complexity, and market demand.
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Export data for the last few years also reveals the steady growth of the clean-label ingredients market. From 2020 to 2024, exports stood at USD 500 million, increased by 10% in 2021 to reach USD 550 million, and rose further to USD 620 million in 2022.
The market also witnessed significant growth in 2023, with exports reaching USD 700 million, further evidence of growing demand for natural, transparent food ingredients. Exports rose to USD 800 million in 2024 as consumers demand healthier, clean-label products.
| Year | Exports (USD million) |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 500 |
| 2021 | 550 |
| 2022 | 620 |
| 2023 | 700 |
| 2024 | 800 |
Increasing Consumer Demand for Transparency and Simplicity
The growing demand for transparency in food labeling is driving the market. Consumers are increasingly choosing products with natural, simple ingredients and avoiding artificial additives. Clean-label products, which feature minimal processing and clear, honest labels, are meeting this demand as shoppers seek more transparency in what they consume.
Health-Consciousness and Demand for Natural Ingredients
As people prioritize healthy eating and avoid synthetic additives, growing health consciousness is driving the need for clean-label foods. Clean-label products-which are usually natural, non-GMO, and devoid of artificial ingredients-are becoming more and more popular, which is driving growth in a number of food and beverage industries.
Shift Toward Sustainability and Ethical Consumption
The market for clean-label components is expanding due to sustainability concerns, as customers are increasingly selecting goods based on environmental effects and ethical origin. These ideals are reflected in clean-label ingredients, which are usually more natural and sustainably sourced, making firms that use them more appealing to consumers who care about the environment.
Rising Prices and Cost Sensitivity
Compared to traditional options, clean-label materials frequently require more time-consuming processing, stringent quality control, and cautious sourcing. For instance, because they require more work to develop and harvest, natural and organic ingredients are more expensive.
These items may also have a shorter shelf life without artificial preservatives, requiring more expensive packaging to ensure safety and freshness. Manufacturers may have to pay more for clean-label products as a result of these additional expenses, which could restrict market expansion in price-sensitive categories by raising retail pricing for consumers.
Sustainable Opportunities
Customers are choosing products with clean-label, sustainably sourced components because they are more conscious of the effects on the environment. Companies can benefit from this change by emphasizing environmentally friendly sourcing, packaging, and production methods. This will help them establish a reputation for environmental responsibility and satisfy consumers' increasing need for sustainable products.
Plant-Based and Vegan Ingredients
Customers are actively looking for goods created with clean-label, plant-derived components as veganism and plant-based diets gain popularity. As more people follow ethical eating guidelines and cut back on their use of animal products, this trend is predicted to pick up speed, opening up a market for plant-based, minimally processed substitutes that support sustainability and health objectives.
Transparency and Traceability
Customers are demanding more information about where their food comes from and how it is made, which is forcing businesses to source their ingredients transparently. Brands can boost consumer confidence by using the Blockchain technology or Third-party certifications to provide ingredient traceability, assuring that their goods adhere to quality and ethical standards.
Rising Demand for Organic Products and Free of Allergens
The market for clean-label ingredients is witnessing a significant trend in the growing demand for components that are plant-based and allergen-free. There is a discernible trend toward plant-based foods and components that omit common allergies like gluten, dairy, and nuts as people grow more conscious of their diet and health. The necessity for allergy-friendly choices, the rise of plant-based diets and veganism, and health concerns are the main forces behind this movement.
Clean-label ingredients, which are plant-based and devoid of artificial additives, satisfy these requirements, resulting in goods that are thought to be safer and more natural for people with food sensitivities. In order to satisfy the demands of health-conscious consumers, food manufacturers are consequently concentrating more on plant-based and allergen-free clean-label ingredients.
Shift Toward Transparency and Simplicity in Food Labeling
A major consumer trend in the clean-label ingredients market is the increasing demand for transparency and simplicity in food labeling. Consumers are favoring products with easily readable labels and listings of natural ingredients.
Customers want to exactly know the nature of components present before they purchase and are moving away from artificial substances, preservatives, and chemicals. Therefore, food manufacturers focus on standardizing the food processing stages and using simple and familiar ingredients to consumers. This shift has triggered businesses to pursue clean-labelling for products in the consumer sector.
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| Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Top Product Type | Starch & Sweeteners |
| Market Share in 2025 | 21.3% |
By product type, the starch & sweeteners product segment is expected to account for 21.3% in 2025. Health-conscious consumers are steering clear of synthetic sweeteners and starches due to concerns about their long-term health effects. Due to concerns about the possible health hazards of artificial sweeteners like aspartame and high-fructose corn syrup, consumers are shifting to natural, clean-label substitutes such as stevia, maple syrup, or organic cane sugar.
Similarly, clean-label starches are gaining popularity as they need less processing and are free from additives catering to the growing preference for minimally processed whole-food ingredients. This shift towards more natural and transparent options drive the demand for clean-label starches and sweeteners in the food industry.
| Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Top End use Application | Prepared Foods/ Ready Meals |
| Market Share in 2025 | 59.5% |
By end use application, prepared foods/ready meals are expected to account for 59.5% share in 2025. Consumers are increasingly choosing prepared foods with clean-label ingredients that align with health-conscious and clean eating trends.
These ingredients, which are devoid of artificial substances, preservatives, and additions, provide transparency and satisfy the increasing desire for natural, unprocessed, and uncomplicated foods. Because consumers are looking for healthier, more transparent meal options, manufacturers are responding by employing clean-label ingredients, which helps to increase brand loyalty and confidence.
| Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Top Form | Powder |
| Market Share in 2025 | 56.6% |
By form, the clean-label ingredients market is dominated by powder which is expected to account for 56.6% share in 2025. Their wide end uses in food products, food, drinks, and medicinal supplements, and well-liked. Products such as protein shakes, smoothies, energy bars, and baked goods are well-inclusive of clean labelling.
Powders offer benefits with easier formulation which makes them practical for consumers. Their adaptability, enables them to be used in a wide range of recipes without changing the texture or consistency of the finished result is a key component of their immense popularity.
| Countries | CAGR |
|---|---|
| India | 15.8% |
| China | 16.9% |
| UK | 23.3% |
| USA | 15.8% |
| Brazil | 7.5% |
Global food trends, such as the need for natural and sustainably sourced ingredients, are having an increasing impact on Indian consumers, especially the younger generations. The market for clean-label components is expanding as a result of the expansion of veganism, plant-based diets, and a general interest in ethical and ecological consumerism.
In order to satisfy the needs of consumers who are ethically and health-conscious, Indian producers are launching more clean-label products as a result of a greater emphasis on sustainability and transparency in food production. Further propelling the market's growth is the ease with which consumers can now access clean-label options thanks to the advent of online shopping channels.
The China Clean-label Ingredients Market is poised to grow at 16.9% CAGR by 2035. Rising consumer demand for natural, minimally processed foods with transparent labels, in line with health-conscious trends and increased food safety awareness, are key drivers. Innovations in plant-based ingredients, clean proteins, organic additives, and the increasing adoption of sustainable practices will gain traction in the market.
Advancements in food processing technologies supports clean-label formulations. Rising government regulations surrounding food labeling will spur increased consumer confidence and positive market growth in China.
Food products that people believe will help prevent or manage chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, are becoming more and more popular in the United Kingdom. In line with their aim for healthier eating habits, many people are searching for cleaner, more natural food options.
Clean-label ingredients are thought to be safer and healthier options because they don't contain artificial chemicals or excessively processed additives. As customers increasingly look for foods that are thought to be better for their long-term health, this choice is pushing food manufacturers to include clean-label components in their product offerings.
The USA government, through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory bodies, has implemented food labeling regulations that encourage greater transparency in food products. The clean-label movement is supported by the FDA's regulations for accurate and transparent food labeling, which include the need for ingredients, nutritional data, and allergen notifications to be included.
These rules help consumers make educated decisions by making it simpler for them to comprehend what is in their food. Additionally, with the rise of clean-label preferences, the government is also exploring and revising labeling standards for claims like "natural" and "organic" to ensure consistency and consumer confidence in clean-label products.
The Brazil clean-label ingredients industry is expected to witness a steady growth at 7.5% CAGR by 2035. The key trends driving this growth include the growing demand from consumers for healthier, more transparent food options free from artificial additives, preservatives, and chemicals. Natural, organic ingredients are in high demand among health-conscious and sustainability-focused Brazilian consumers.
The industry is also witnessing a shift towards plant-based alternatives, clean proteins, and functional ingredients. Increased awareness of food safety and stricter labeling regulations will drive innovations in food processing technologies and enhance clean-label product offerings.
A variety of major competitors in the clean-label ingredients industry are committed to offering natural, minimally processed products that satisfy customer desires for health-conscious and transparent components. Tate & Lyle PLC, Cargill, Inc., and Ingredion Incorporated are a few of the market's leading corporations.
These businesses have become industry leaders by providing clean-label products in various food and drink areas. For example, Ingredion helps manufacturers satisfy consumer demands for simplicity and transparency by providing a range of clean-label starches, sweeteners, and other ingredients.
Cargill recently expanded its product portfolio of clean-label options to include natural sweeteners, texturizers, and oils amid consumers' growing desire for less processed foods. These firms have used different growth strategies, such as diversification of their product offerings and better sustainability practices, to maintain and build their market share.
For instance, Tate & Lyle has concentrated on offering clean-label and sustainable products that support environmental and health objectives, such as natural fibers and sweeteners. Partnerships and acquisitions have also been essential; Ingredion and other large corporations have acquired smaller businesses focusing on plant-based and clean-label products.
Several startups have emerged in the clean-label ingredients market, offering innovative solutions that cater to the increasing consumer demand for transparency and natural ingredients.
PureCircle specializes in plant-based, stevia-derived sweeteners. Their growth strategy revolves around sustainability with a focus on growing stevia crops through responsible agricultural practices, which allows them to produce clean-label sweeteners that align with health and eco-conscious consumers. It has invested heavily in research and development to create new, innovative, clean-label sweeteners that cater to specific dietary preferences, such as low-sugar or non-GMO options.
NutraBloom focuses on offering clean-label functional ingredients such as plant-based proteins and superfoods. Their business approach focuses on meeting the need for clean-label components in the rapidly growing market for plant-based foods. NutraBloom works directly with suppliers to source high-quality, sustainable ingredients free of harmful additives and preservatives.
Transparency is also highly valued by the company, which provides clients with thorough information on ingredient sources, quality control methods, and certifications. NutraBloom is rapidly expanding its market share in the clean-label ingredients industry through direct-to-consumer sales and strategic partnerships with well-known food brands.
Putting Product Innovation First
Food companies are emphasizing transparency throughout the food production stages. By creating new clean-label ingredients, such as non-GMO, allergy-free, or functional options it enables the companies to better address consumer needs and offer them organic products. Besides, this approach also drives the perquisites for biodegradable food alternatives worldwide.
Blockchain Technology to Promote Transparency
Blockchain technology is crucial in enhancing authenticity through a secure, immutable, and a decentralized platform to track and verify the journey of ingredients from source to consumer. It accelerates traceability, verification, and integrated supply-chain to provide end-to-end real-time traceability, and also reduces potential fraud or misrepresentation of ingredient sourcing and quality.
Collaboration with Plant-Based and Health Brands
The surging demand for vegan and allergy-free foods has broadened the landscape for clean-label ingredients. In addition, plant-based products have gained a huge popularity mainly for their nutritive values. Emerging startup are now collaborating with established brands to comply with industry standards and effectively meet consumer demands.
The clean-label market is segmented by type into natural colors, natural flavors, fruit and vegetable ingredients, starch & sweeteners, flour, malt and others.
According to the form, the clean-label market is segmented into powder and liquid.
Segment of the clean-label ingredients according to the form includes prepared foods/ready meals, beverages, bakery & confectionary, dairy & frozen desserts, snacks & convenience foods, and others.
According to the region, the clean-label ingredients market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, South Asia & Pacific, East Asia, Middle East & Africa.
The clean-label ingredients market is estimated to be USD 57.3 billion in 2025, projected to reach USD 212.4 billion by 2035.
The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.5% from 2025 to 2035.
Major manufacturers include Tate & Lyle PLC, Cargill, Inc., and Ingredion Incorporated.
The USA is likely to create lucrative opportunities for clean-label market players.
| Expected Market Value (2023) | USD 124 million |
|---|---|
| Projected Forecast Value (2033) | USD 221.8 million |
| Anticipated Growth Rate (2023 to 2033) | 6% CAGR |
| Market Size (2023) | USD 3.7 billion |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2033) | USD 5.9 billion |
| Market CAGR (2023 to 2033) | 7.0% |
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