New Information | FDA Approves A New Natural Blue color

FDA approves new natural blue color

Jagua (Genipin-Glycine) Blue

CAS No. 1314879-21-4

INS No. 183

After 2 years, the FDA has once again approved a new natural blue color "Jagua Blue", which is extracted from Huito fruit.

The last time natural blue color was approved was in 2021 when the FDA approved the water extract of Clitoria Ternatea as a natural blue color additive.

• New natural blue color: Huito Fruit

Hutio also known as Genipa Americana, is a native tree that grows in Colombia and many other South American countries. Ecoflora extracts a unique natural blue color from Huito fruit, and this production and extraction technology and process have been applied for protection.

The research shows that the juice of the Huito fruit was still clear when extracted. When mixed with Amino acids, Peptides, Proteins, and other compounds, Genipin in the juice turns blue. The natural blue color from Huito fruit can be used as a substitute for synthetic blue colors, and can also be used as a base color to be mixed with other colors to create new shades, such as green, purple, brown, etc.

Jagua Blue except for coloring food, is rich in Vitamins B, Iron, Calcium, and other minerals. Regarding specific applications, Jagua Blue is more stable than Blue #2 which is FDA-approved. Food manufacturers not only use it to make blue products but also to mix other colors to create new colors and shades!

• The application range of Jagua Blue

As a new natural blue color, it dissolves in water, has good tolerance to heat, light, and acid, and has a high coloring ability, it is a usableness, cost-efficient natural blue color, which can be safely used in the food industry, including beverage, snacks, confectionary, dairy products, jelly, bakery and so on.

According to the information released by the FDA, the approved applications include color flavored milk; dairy drinks and substitutes; dairy and dairy alternative yogurt; ice cream, frozen dairy and dairy alternative desserts, puddings, gelatins, ices, sorbets; ready-to-eat multicolored cereals, flavored potato chips, tortilla, corn, and other chips; candy and chewing gum; non-alcoholic fruit-based/flavored drinks, nutritional beverages, and smoothies; flavored cream cheese-based spreads; and icings, frostings, jams, syrups, and fruit toppings and fillings, provided the amount of jagua blue does not exceed levels consistent with GMP.

• Another natural blue color

Although blue is relatively scarce in the plant world, it still cannot resist the preference of food and beverage for blue, especially when it comes to summer, many drinks will meet the new blue products. In addition, from the consumer side, blue food and drinks are becoming more and more popular among young overseas consumers, and many hot food trends on the Internet are related to "blue".

Compared with synthetic blue color, natural blue color on the market is still relatively small, mainly the following types:

• Butterfly pea flower extract

In 2019, the FDA officially approved the identity of butterfly pea flower extract as a natural blue color additive. The butterfly pea flower is a traditional ingredient in Southeast Asia and is rich in vitamins A, C, and E. The extract is a dark blue liquid made from the water extract of dried butterfly pea flowers, which is then treated with ultrafiltration to remove the residue of the plant product, and then concentrated and pasteurized. This natural blue color is relatively stable to light, heat, and pH. The application range is also relatively wide, including beverages, dairy products, candy, chewing gum, and so on.

• Gardenia blue

The extraction and stabilization principle of gardenia blue is similar to the production principle of Huito fruit, and it is also a safe and stable food color, especially for acid-resistant foods and beverages. Compared with butterfly pea flower extract, gardenia blue has lower production costs and a wider application range, but the disadvantage is that the color is no more popular than spirulina blue.

Gardenia Blue is a natural blue color approved by our country, which can be applied to frozen products, jam, candy, baked products, protein beverages, solid drinks, etc. The specific application scope and use amount should be implemented according to GB2760-2014.

• Spirulina blue

The FDA approved spirulina blue as a natural color additive in 2013, which is relatively close to the Blue #1 hue. Spirulina blue is extracted from spirulina, which is a natural blue color and a protein, with a complete range of amino acids, accounting for 37.2% of the total. Therefore, spirulina blue has also been developed into various dietary supplement products in overseas markets.

At present, spirulina blue has more applications in the natural blue color market, but it also faces some challenges, such as the possibility of fading or precipitation under acidic conditions, and the best effect at pH values between 4 and 8. In addition, spirulina blue tolerance to light and heat is not very good, so it is not suitable for products that are treated with high temperatures, and it is more widely used in frozen products.

Spirulina Blue is also approved in China, the current application range includes frozen drinks (except 03.04 edible ice), candy, spices and powder, fruit and vegetable juice (pulp) drinks, flavored drinks, and jelly, the maximum use is 0.8g/kg.

• "Kanglong" brand product: natural blue color

The growing variety of natural blue colors has provided the food industry with more options, but the ones we most often use are classic, market-tested products. For example, for "Kanglong" brand gardenia blue and spirulina blue, AAFUD company as a pioneer of natural mixed colorants can make different colors according to different color values. There is a coloring food of EXBERRY, blue concentrated fruit, and vegetable juice, which colors food for food.

• Gardenia blue

Product Description: Food additive Gardenia blue is made from the gardenia fruit as raw material, by water or edible ethanol extraction, enzymatic hydrolysis, adding edible amino acid combination, refining, and other processes.

Ingredients: Gardenia blue, pure water

Application range and maximum usage (g/kg) :

Frozen drinks (1.0), jams (0.3), pickled vegetables (0.5), cooked nuts and seeds (0.5), confectionery (0.3), instant rice and noodle products (0.5), food products fillings (0.5), pastries (0.9), baked food fillings and surface hanging pulp (1.0), condiments (0.5), fruit and vegetable juices (0.5), protein drink (0.5), flavored drink (0.2), solid drink (0.5), liquor (0.2), puffed food (0.5).

Product implementation standard: GB 2831

• Spirulina blue

Product Description: Spirulina blue

Application scope and maximum usage (g/kg): Frozen drinks (excluding 03.04 ice) (0.8), sugar (0.8), spices and powders (0.8), fruit and vegetable juice (pulp) drinks (0.8), flavored drinks (0.8), jelly (0.8).

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