The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently expanded the applications in which spirulina can be used as a colorant, and Chr. Hansen has taken the opportunity to promote its offering. The company points out that it provides a range of liquid and powder formulas, under the SweetColor and FruitMax brands, and that the products are safeguarded for micro and bio issues and verified by third party certified auditors.
Originally approved for use in candy and chewing gum, spirulina, with this new approval, is now approved for use in a wider range of products, including frostings, ice cream and frozen desserts, dessert coatings and toppings, beverage mixes and powders, yogurts, custards, puddings, cottage cheese, gelatin, breadcrumbs, and ready-to-eat cereals (excluding extruded cereals).
“It is definitely very exciting to have this pigment option available to create new shades of colour,” said Byron Madkins, director of business development, Americas for the Natural Color Division of Chr. Hansen. “The ability to deliver green shades in particular, which has been cause of much frustration in the past, is now very achievable.”
“By formulating spirulina with encapsulated turmeric or beta-carotene, for example, we can deliver stable, beautiful green shades for the approved applications in addition to blue shades. With the approval of spirulina as a natural (exempt from certification) blue colour, the conversion from synthetic to naturally derived colours is even more within reach.”
Chr. Hansen said that it expects this to generate high interest in the market and is already receiving many requests across of different application areas.
Spirulina is a concentrated extract from blue algae and is widely recognised as a dietary supplement. Purification of the extract results in a colourant that provides bright blue shades in foods.
