Correct Explanation of Pigment: Pigment is an ingredient that imparts a certain color.

Definition of natural pigments

Colors that can be eaten from natural plant roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and animals, microorganisms and so on are known as edible natural pigments, and from the amount of additive food coloring in food accounted for a very small proportion of the general products, beverages, alcoholic beverages, pastries, confectionery, pharmaceuticals etc. A few thousandths, ten thousandths or even a few hundred thousandths.

Natural pigments, although widely permitted as food coloring, but the definition and licensing of natural food coloring is not the same in all countries, some substances are recognized as spices rather than pigments, so many spices are not recognized as pigments. In Sweden, for example, turmeric, cayenne pepper, saffron and sandalwood are recognized not as colors but as spices.

Sources

Natural colors are generally derived from natural ingredients, such as beet red, grapes, and chili peppers, which have been recognized and accepted by a wide range of consumers, so natural colors from these food sources are more preferred by consumers and safer to use. Most are derived from plant pigments.

The use of natural colors makes some products look less artificial and closer to their natural form, thus attracting more consumers. In the European Union today, natural colors are not only taking over the market for synthetic colors, but also for some color extracts.

Phytochrome Properties

The vast majority of phytochromes have no side effects and are highly safe. Most of the plant pigments are anthocyanins, carotenoids, flavonoids, a class of biologically active substances, is a functional active ingredient in botanical medicine and health food. In view of the fact that phytochromes are used in food, drugs and cosmetics as additives for coloring, the dosage is not up to the quantity-effect ratio of medical and health products.

In the application of health food, this kind of plant pigment can respectively play the auxiliary role of enhancing human immune function, antioxidant, lowering blood lipids, etc.; some of them can play the auxiliary role of nutritional fortification and antioxidant role in ordinary food.

Phytochrome coloring tone is more natural, can increase the tone, but also with the natural color similar to a natural beauty of plant pigments in the plant body in less content, separation and purification is more difficult, some of which **** the existence of the deposit may also produce a bad taste, so the production cost is higher than synthetic pigments.

Most of the phytochromes are sensitive to light, heat, oxygen, microorganisms and metal ions and value changes, and their stability is poor; the use of some of the phytochromes must be added to oxidizers, stabilizers to improve the life cycle of the goods.