Chr. Hansen Offers Natural Blue Color from Spirulina

Chr. Hansen (Milwaukee) has made available a natural blue colorant from spirulina. The “bright and attractive” blue shade is suitable for candies and chewing gums, and it’s one answer to the lack of natural blue colors available in today’s market.

The company’s launch follows the ingredient’s much-needed FDA’s approval for coloring use. Several other companies, including Mars Inc. and Valensa International (Eustis, FL), are awaiting FDA confirmation for their own spirulina blues. Each of these colors is based on phycocyanin, the blue pigment that can be extracted out of this blue-green ingredient.

Chr. Hansen’s blue color can provide natural coloring to panned candies, chewing candies, gummy candies, chewing gum, and numerous other forms of confectionery. Since spirulina also has green tones, the company says its product can also provide a foundation for green color blends.