Colors
Food colors are present in many of the foods & beverages we encounter every day. As eating is a full sensorial experience, we tend to avoid foods with colors that don’t reflect the taste or freshness we are looking for. Though we may not realize it, food ingredients for color are responsible for keeping our food looking and tasting the way we expect.
Many of the foods & beverages we consume daily would not have the vibrant color that we are used to if it wasn’t for food coloring. These products would look completely different and nowhere near as appealing if it wasn’t for food color optimization.
- Carotenoids
Mainly used for their orange, red and yellow colors, carotenoids function as antioxidants in the body. One of the most popular carotenoids is beta-carotene, which comes from sweet potatoes and pumpkins – it's often added to dairy products like margarine and cheese because it’s soluble in fat.
- Chlorophyll
It's in all green plants and algae and is essential for their photosynthetic processes. We owe the oxygen in our atmosphere to chlorophyll. Not only that, but chlorophyll gives mint and lime-flavored foods like ice cream and candy the color we expect and desire.
- Anthocyane
These are the organic compounds responsible for the deep color in blueberries, cranberries and grapes. Anthocyanin is a popular choice as a natural food color because its solubility in water means it works well in a variety of products. Water-based products like soft drinks, jelly and even blue corn chips get their color from anthocyanins
- Turmeric
This natural food coloring comes from the root of the turmeric plant. It is most abundantly grown in Southeast Asia and India, hence its association with some of that region's most popular foods. It's not only a favorite for its excellent flavor but also for the vibrant yellow color it naturally imparts.
Get in touch
Please contact the food experts at Brenntag Food & Nutrition for more information on the food colors that we can offer to make your product truly stand out. We are looking forward to helping to color your world.
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