Lately, Seine River’s colossal billion-dollar clean-up initiative has been making waves in the news. The reason? The immediate goal is to make the river swimmable by 2024. But the underlying motivation is that we all share a deep love for our blue planet and yearn to breathe fresh air and live in a clean world.
Yet, the challenges of cleaning up our surroundings are not limited to just the river. Our food environment also requires a much-needed makeover, particularly when it comes to food colorants. By improving the use of food colorants, we can create a more vibrant, nutritious, and appealing food environment that nourishes our bodies and satisfies our senses.
As we all know, some natural colorants can be easily obtained from nature, but some are more challenging to come by, such as blue. As a result, many food producers turn to artificial blue colorants to fill this gap. However, this practice raises significant health concerns.
Ancient Gifts from Nature: Phycocyanin (Spirulina Extract)
Luckily, there’s good news: the application of phycocyanin could change all of that. Phycocyanin, an extract of blue-green algae, is an ideal natural alternative to harmful artificial blue colorants. Its vibrant blue color and numerous health benefits make it an exciting and promising addition to the world of natural food colorants.
Imagine a world where we can indulge in vibrant and beautiful colors without compromising our health. This vision is not only fascinating but also inspiring, as it paves the way for further exploration of creativity and innovation in the food industry.
Adds color and natural to candy first
Let’s first explore phycocyanin in confectionery, a segment of food industry. In fact, Phycocyanin as a natural pigment has already gained popularity in this industry in recent years. As consumers become more health-conscious and demand more natural ingredients in their food, many confectionery manufacturers are moving away from synthetic food colors and turning to natural alternatives like phycocyanin. In 2019, the global phycocyanin market size was estimated to be around USD 104 million, and it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2020 to 2027.
With this trend showing no signs of slowing down and consumers expressing interest in new product offerings, it’s time for us to inject more excitement into our candies. And what better way to do that than with a burst of vibrant colors? From playful pinks to electric blues, these hues can transform any dessert from drab to fab in a single stroke.
So, let’s unleash the power of color and take our sweet tooth on a deliciously daring adventure! Confectionery giants, like Jelly Belly and Nestlé, have already embraced phycocyanin. They are leading the market in incorporating it into their products to achieve bright and bold colors.
The significant benefits of this natural pigment are undeniable.
1. Using a natural coloring like phycocyanin can help build trust and loyalty with the customer base, as more and more consumers demand transparency in their food choices.
2. In the world of confectionery, appearance is everything. A vibrant, eye-catching display can be the difference between a potential customer walking past your store or stopping to take a closer look. The bright blue color that phycocyanin gives is perfect to enhance products’ appeal. In addition to giving them a blue color, phycocyanin is also used in combination with other natural colorants to create different shades of green and purple. The market possibilities are endless.
3. In addition to its functional benefits, phycocyanin also has many health benefits. It is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. This makes it an ideal ingredient for health-conscious consumers who are looking for products that offer both visual appeal and health benefits.
100% Safe Physically Extracted Phcocyanin
With the stunning range of benefits of this remarkable natural pigment, you may wonder how phycocyanin is produced. Take it easy. Let me tell you a tale of the mighty Spirulina and the vibrant Phycocyanin that it holds within.
First off, let’s start with the extraction process. It all begins with our dear friend Spirulina, a type of blue-green algae that’s packed full of nutrients and antioxidants. To extract the Phycocyanin, we need to first harvest the Spirulina, usually by filtering it out of the water it grows in.
Once we have our Spirulina in hand, we need to break down its cell walls to release the Phycocyanin. This can be done through various means, such as mechanical grinding. However, one of the most popular methods is by using a process called osmotic shock, where we subject the Spirulina to rapid changes in temperature and pH to weaken its cell walls.
Next up is the separation step. We need to separate the Phycocyanin from the rest of the Spirulina components. This can be done through centrifugation, filtration, or chromatography.
Finally, we arrive at the purification step. This is where we refine and concentrate our Phycocyanin to make sure it’s as pure as possible. We can do this through a variety of methods, such as precipitation, dialysis, or ultrafiltration. The end result is a beautiful, vibrant blue pigment that’s ready to be used in a variety of applications, such as food coloring.
Get high-quality phycocyanin from BINMEI
As a manufacturer of Phycocyanin, BINMEI Biotechnology has a team of experienced professionals who specialize in the production of Phycocyanin for years. This ensures that its products are of the highest quality and consistency. Binmei Biotechnology also uses advanced analytical techniques to monitor every stage of the production process, which includes testing for purity, potency, and consistency.
Using Phycocyanin in candy formulations will take your candy formulations from ordinary to extraordinary. However, to ensure the best results, it is crucial to consider the temperature, formulation, and dosage when incorporating the pigment.
Firstly, Phycocyanin is a bit of a diva when it comes to temperature. It can lose its cool if things get too hot, so you need to keep a watchful eye on the heating temperature and time during production to avoid any color fading or degradation. You don’t want Phycocyanin throwing a temper tantrum and ruining all your hard work!
Secondly, phycocyanin doesn’t always play nice with other ingredients in an acidic environment, which can lead to changes or loss of color. So, make sure you do some compatibility testing to ensure that everything is hunky-dory before you start mixing things up.
Last but not least, the amount of Phycocyanin you use is crucial for achieving the desired color effect and keeping costs under control. You don’t want to go overboard and waste this precious pigment. It’s all about finding the right balance, so exercise reasonable control and let your creativity run wild!
After the aforementioned introduction, it is evident that Phycocyanin is not just an exceptional and versatile natural pigment that enables candy manufacturers to create visually appealing products that cater to the rising demand for natural and wholesome ingredients. It is also a compelling choice for confectionery manufacturers who seek to develop more innovative and attractive candy offerings. So don’t overlook the potential of this exceptional natural pigment, it offers the potential for new product offerings and growth opportunities. Plus, by using the natural pigment, you also make a contribution to help the food industry move towards a cleaner and healthier future that benefits us all.
