Lycored is the global leader in natural carotenoids for food, beverage and dietary supplement products.
Super-stable colorants from carotenoids
The company offers a range of colors from Lycopene from tomatoes (Tomat-O-Red TM ― which provides authentic vegan pink to red shades) and BetaCarotene from its own strain of Blakeslea Trispora fungus (Lyc-O-Beta TM, which provides yellows and oranges). Both are pH-neutral and highly stable under a wide range of light and high-temperature conditions.
In recent years, Lycored has demonstrated the high performance of these super-stable, carotenoid-derived colorants in a range of segments:
UHT milk drinks
Tomat-O-Red TM was shown to perform exceptionally in colored, flavored milk drinks subjected to four different UHT process technologies: steam injection, plate, tubular, and infusion.
Fruit preparations for yogurts
Lycored’s colors were found to perform better than alternatives in fruit preparations for yogurts, demonstrating resistance to fade and migration, and remaining stable at high temperatures.
Flavored colored waters
Lycored’s colors delivered excellent performance in sparkling water containing strawberry-flavored syrup. Over a 12-month shelf life they demonstrated resistance to fading, ringing and lack of sedimentation.
Surimi seafood coating
Lycored’s naturally sourced colors can also extend the shelf life of surimi seafood products.
When blended into the outer layer of seafood sticks that were stored in chilled conditions and exposed to high light levels, they maintained stability for at least 66 days.
High performance in confectionery
At IFT, Lycored will be showcasing the results of new trials of the performance of its colorants in confectionery.
Researchers tested gummies in six different colors sourced from Tomat-O-Red TM and Lyc-O-Beta TM. They were aligned with six different fruit flavors and fortified with Vitamin C, which disrupts the stability of some colorants, but not Lycopene or BetaCarotene.
The naturally colored samples were compared with gummies containing an artificial colorant, but produced by the same manufacturer. With the exception of the Vitamin C, the ingredients were generally the same. The results revealed slight fade in both products, but their performance was relatively similar.
Natural colors not a deal-breaker for kids
Lycored also undertook consumer research into the way children, and their parents, respond to natural and artificial colors in confectionery.
It conducted interviews with ten child-parent pairs. All were sent a bag of gummies colored naturally with Tomat-O-Red TM and Lyc-O-Beta TM, and another bag of gummies made by the same manufacturer but colored artificially.
The research found that both the children and their parents were able to distinguish between the naturally colored candies and the artificial ones. Although the children tended to prefer the brighter, artificial colors they were enthusiastic about eating all of them.
The parents said that in an ideal world they would prefer to feed their kids healthy options. If all other factors were similar – and their children would eat them – they would buy candy colored naturally. Some said they would be willing to pay more for naturally colored versions of candy they already buy.
Hard-coated candy
Lycored also tested the performance of its carotenoid-derived colors through the rigorous hard-coating / panning process in hard-coated confectionery.
They were used with QuickWhite from Norevo ― a clean label natural opaque coating which is an alternative to Titanium Dioxide. The formulations, in shades of red, yellow and orange from Lycopene and BetaCarotene, were tested by an external laboratory with specific expertise in pan coating in both hard and soft panned products. They were then tested for stability to heat and humidity. The results were very positive, particularly for a vibrant red shade from Lycopene.
An excellent option for cheese
Lycored will also demonstrate why BetaCarotene is an excellent coloring option for hard cheeses. It will offer new insights into the role played by the color of cheese in today’s market, as well as publishing new results on the stability of BetaCarotene-derived colors in Cheddar-type and hard yellow cheeses.
Partnering with culinology pioneer Charlie Baggs
Finally, Lycored will partner with top US chef Charlie Baggs. The ‘culinology’ pioneer has developed new recipe concepts that showcase the company’s tomato-based flavor enhancer SANTE, and CTC, its Clear Tomato Concentrate. They demonstrate the power of the products to make recipes healthier while also creating “craveability” by enhancing natural umami and kokumi characteristics.
