The following table is offered to guide you in the selection of the most appropriate colorant for your application.
Please call Kalsec® for additional advice on the acceptability of annatto colors for your formulation, process, and packaging.
Hue
Hue expression is dependent upon the state of the pigment. Temperature, pH, and the food substrate all effect pigment
solubility. Crystalline pigments exhibit a red-orange hue while dissolved pigments exhibit a yellow-orange hue.
Stability
Light and heat stability are highly variable and are effected by the overall oxidative state of the food system.
| Micro-crystalline Suspension in Oil Bixin |
Orange to brick red. Hue may shift to yellow-orange if the pigment crystals are dissolved through heating or dilution. |
Acceptable for use in pasteurized, baked, spray-dried, and aseptically-packed products. |
Light Occlusive packaging is suggested. |
Not affected by pH. |
| Aquaresin® Bixin |
Orange to brick red. Hue may shift to yellow-orange if the pigment crystals are dissolved through heating or dilution. |
Acceptable for use in pasteurized, baked, spray-dried, and aseptically-packed products. |
Light Occlusive packaging is suggested. |
Not affected by pH. |
| Oil Soluble Bixin |
Yellow-Orange |
Acceptable for use in pasteurized, baked, spray-dried, and aseptically-packed products. |
Light Occlusive packaging is suggested. |
Under some conditions, pigments may precipitate at a pH below 6.0 and a more red-orange color will result. |
| Durabrite® Bixin |
Dependent on pigment form. |
Annatto colors available in Durabrite®: form exhibit superior heat stability. |
Superior light stability. |
Dependent on pigment form. Soluble annatto may precipitate at at pH below 6.0. |
| Propylene Glycol Emulsions Bixin/Norbixin |
Orange to brick red. Hue may shift to yellow-orange if the pigment crystals are dissolved through heating or dilution. |
Acceptable for use in baked or spray-dried products. |
Light Occlusive packaging is suggested. |
Pigment will precipitate at a pH below 6.0. |
| Acid Proof Bixin/Norbixin |
Yellow to Orange. |
Acceptable for use in baked or spray-dried products. |
Light Occlusive packaging is suggested. |
Water solutions are stable against precipitation down to pH = 3.2. |
| Alkaline Solutions Norbixin |
Yellow to orange if the pigments are dissolved. Peach-orange if the pigments crystallize out. |
Acceptable for use in extruded products. |
Light Occlusive packaging is suggested for applications other than natural cheese. |
Precipitation is likely to occur at a pH below 6.0. |
| Powder Norbixin |
Salmon-orange. |
Hue will shift from salmon-orange to yellow-orange at temperatures greater than 50°C. |
Light stability is highly variable and relative to the overall oxidative state of food system. |
See technical data sheet. [insert link here to request it here?] |
