Table 3: Natural Food Colorants

 
chemical class      colour              plant source                      pigment              products 
 
Anthocyanins        red                 strawberry (Fragaria              pelargonidin         beverages, 
                                         species)                          3-glucoside*         confections, 
                                                                                                preserves, fruit 
                                                                                                products 
                    blue                grape (Vitis species)             malvidin             beverages 
                                                                           3-glucoside* 
Betacyanins         red                 beetroot (Beta vulgaris)          betanin              dairy products, 
                                                                                                desserts, icings 
Carotenoids**       yellow/orange       annatto (Bixa orellana)           bixin                dairy products, 
                                                                                                margarine 
                    yellow              saffron (Crocus sativus)          crocin               rice dishes, bakery 
                                                                                                products 
                    red/orange          paprika (Capsicum annuum)         capsanthin           soups, sauces 
                    orange              carrot (Daucus carota)            beta-carotene        bakery products, 
                                                                                                confections 
                    red                 mushroom (Cantharellus            canthaxanthin        sauces, soups, 
                                         cinnabarinus)                                          dressings 
Phenolics           orange/yellow       turmeric (Cuycuma longa)          curcumin             dairy products, 
                                                                                                confections 
 
*Plus other similar compounds.  **Many carotenoids used as food colorants are chemically 
synthesized. 
Copyright 1994-1999 Encyclopędia Britannica

View Article: Synthetics