
In this episode of Product Rising's AI Safety, Ethics & Responsibility series, host Shannon Peavey sits down with Kelly Anderson, founder and CEO of DyeConverter, an AI-powered platform helping food and beverage companies replace synthetic dyes with natural alternatives.
Kelly's path to entrepreneurship is anything but typical. A chef-technologist and the first chef in the world certified by MIT in AI and Machine Learning, she has spent more than a decade leading innovation, R&D, and product development initiatives for brands including Nestlé, Disney, Impossible Foods, Panera Bread, Starbucks, and US Foods.
As regulators, consumers, and food manufacturers grapple with the future of food ingredients, Kelly saw an opportunity to apply AI to one of the industry's most complex challenges: reformulating products that rely on synthetic colors.
If you've ever wondered how artificial intelligence can move beyond content generation and help solve real-world scientific and operational challenges, this episode is for you.
00:00 Introduction to Kelly Anderson and DyeConverter
02:08 What is a "chef-technologist"?
03:01 How culinary training shaped Kelly's approach to AI and innovation
04:08 From executive chef to food innovation leader
05:28 Discovering a broken food system and finding an AI opportunity
08:10 Why replacing synthetic food dyes is harder than it sounds
10:11 Health, regulatory, and manufacturing risks of natural color alternatives
12:41 How DyeConverter works
14:20 The role of the human in the loop
17:55 Flavor transfer, consumer expectations, and reformulation challenges
19:12 Which food dyes are being phased out?
20:40 AI-powered color matching and the Color Studio
22:42 Data sharing, trade secrets, and AI collaboration in food
25:01 Why the food industry needs food people building food technology
26:28 Beyond food dyes: the future of ingredient reformulation
28:05 Ultra-processed foods, consumer demand, and healthier products
30:22 Why business incentives matter more than good intentions
31:34 Food regulations around the world and lessons from Europe
34:07 What every industry should know about AI adoption
35:40 Consumer rights, transparency, and AI disclosure
36:21 How food companies are using AI today
38:14 AI, sustainability, agriculture, and the future of farming
39:32 Supply chain transparency and food traceability
40:38 Predictions for food, health, and AI over the next decade
42:18 Will healthier food become more affordable?
43:38 Resources for following innovation in food and CPG
44:18 Kelly's favorite cuisine and why she loves classic French cooking
45:15 Closing remarks
📚 Resources
Where to find Kelly Anderson:
Kelly Anderson on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyai/
Where to find DyeConverter
DyeConverterhttps://dyeconverter.com/
Learn More
US Foods https://www.usfoods.com/
Nestle https://www.nestle.com/
U.S. Regulatory Requirements https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/hhs-fda-phase-out-petroleum-based-synthetic-dyes-nations-food-supply
U.S. FSMA Food Traceability Requirement https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-requirements-additional-traceability-records-certain-foods
Grow to Market Substack https://substack.com/@growtomarket
Julia Child’s Coq au Vin recipe https://www.theendlessmeal.com/julia-childs-coq-au-vin/
Where to find our hosts:
Shannon Peavey https://www.linkedin.com/in/spmad/
🙋🏻♀️Where to find Women in Product:
On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-product/posts/
Website https://womenpm.org/
Join the Community https://womenpm.org/wip-community/
Product Rising on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/product-rising/id1584224561
Product Rising on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7bcyVhpdhw0hbiRr6O4h1U
Product Rising on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLijcNLDj_QE2ge6Wqeh0MLx_qMKwot--9
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