Chr Hansen’s decade-long breeding programme has resulted in a new sweet potato (the Hansen sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas]), that is the raw material creating vibrant alternatives to carmine and synthetic reds. The company has commercialised the new variety using traditional breeding methods.
“For the first time, we have created a whole new variety of vegetable to create the natural colour our customers are asking for,” said Jakob Dalmose Rasmussen, vice-president, commercial development, Chr Hansen Natural Colors.
“We call it the Hansen sweet potato. Over 10 years ago, we discovered a promising pigment in a root vegetable’s tuber, but the plant’s pigment content was on the low side,” he added.
“We took this plant and embarked on a process of selective breeding using traditional, non-GMO (genetically-modified organism) methods. The result is a plant-based, brilliant red that gives our customers a natural alternative to carmine and synthetic colours,” said Rasmussen.
It all starts with the right raw material
Chr Hansen has a team of experienced experts to develop new and refined raw materials using selective breeding. To do it they collaborate with colleagues, growers and scientists around the world.
“It all starts with the right raw material. Our plant scientists spent years cultivating and selecting generation after generation of seedlings. We partnered with growers to learn the best ways to plant, nurture and harvest the Hansen sweet potato,” said Luc Ganivet, vice-president, innovation and application at Chr Hansen Natural Colors.
“And we perfected methods of handling, transportation and extraction. The result is the Hansen sweet potato with its unique combination of high yield, brilliant colour and high per-plant pigment load,” he added.
A bright red carmine alternative
The Hansen sweet potato is the basis for Chr Hansen’s recently-launched FruitMax line of bright-red solutions that solve some of the biggest challenges of previously available natural red colours.
“Strawberry red is a popular shade for food products – from cakes to confectionary to milkshakes. But until now it has been nearly impossible to make a fire-engine red colour with no risk of off-taste without using carmine,” said Rasmussen.
“And as consumers move towards vegetarian and vegan food choices, the need for a carmine alternative has become more pressing,” he added.
“Our new FruitMax red juice concentrates are 100 per cent plant-based and provide a new solution to our customers looking to respond to this consumer trend,” said Rasmussen.
Chr. Hansen’s new FruitMax Orange and recently-launched FruitMax reds are based on Hansen sweet potato blends, are minimally processed and meet the EU requirements for colouring foodstuffs.
