Color is an integral part of food and greatly influences the acceptability of food. Consumers always associate the color of a food with other qualities such as ripeness, freshness and food safety. The development of foods with attractive colors is therefore an important objective for the food industry. Any substance added to food (solid or liquid) that produces the desired color is known as a food color. The use of food colors dates back to the ancient Egyptian period. Since then, many naturally derived colors such as indigo, turmeric, saffron, parsley, paprika, and cochineal have been used to improve the appearance of food. By the middle of the nineteenth century, synthetic colors were introduced, also with the aim of coloring foods. To this day, food color is the key to making the food attractive. According to statistics, the global food colors market size was USD 2.55 billion in 2018. This is expected to reach USD 4.77 billion by 2026. It can be said that the prospect of food color is extremely bright. As a professional supplier, Alfa Chemistry is committed to providing safe and stable food colors for all types of food products.
Purpose of adding food color
Adding color for food has many purposes, and the main purposes are described below.
Properties of the ideal food color
Food color added to different types of commodities should have a number of unique properties. They include, but are not limited to the following.
- It should be non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, and do not contain toxic impurities.
- For widespread use, it should have solubility and/or dispersibility characteristics for incorporation into water-based and fat-based food products.
- It should be odorless and tasteless and will not alter the smell or taste of the food itself.
- It should not react with trace elements or with oxidizing or reducing agents.
- Its characteristics should be uniform across batches and enable the monitoring of concentrates and food products by appropriate analytical means.
- Whether naturally obtained or chemically synthesized, it should be relatively economical.
- It must be approved and conform to government specifications.
Our products
Food colors can be divided into four types, namely natural colors, synthetic colors, blended food colors and lake food colors. They can be supplied in various forms such as solid powders, liquids, viscous like gels or pastes. Alfa Chemistry has the expertise and experience to provide you with stable and safe food colors.
Natural Food Colors
Natural food colors are obtained from naturally occurring sources such as plants, animals, insects, and minerals. They make food more attractive, appealing, and appetizing.
Learn More
Synthetic Food Colors
Synthetic food colors are coloring agents that are not identical in nature and are obtained by chemical synthesis. They are reliable and economical in restoring the original shade of the foods.
Learn More
Blended Food Colors
Blended food colors are made by mixing two or more kinds of different food colors to achieve the desired color effect. They are combined in numerous ways to produce a vast array of shades.
Learn More
Lake Food Colors
Lake food colors are water-insoluble colors that are widely used in the food field. They are very attractive due to their unique properties.
Learn MoreFor Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
