E160D – Lycopene
CouloursDescription
Red pigment from tomatoes
Notes
Lycopene is a vibrant red pigment that occurs naturally in tomatoes, watermelons, pink grapefruit, and other red-colored fruits. For commercial use as a food additive, it's typically extracted from tomatoes through various methods including solvent extraction or more modern techniques like supercritical fluid extraction. The process involves concentrating and purifying the lycopene from tomato paste or other tomato products, resulting in a deep red coloring agent. As a natural food coloring, lycopene gives foods an appealing red or pink hue without the need for artificial dyes. You'll commonly find it used in processed foods like tomato sauces, soups, beverages, dairy products, and confectionery where a natural red color is desired. It's particularly popular in products marketed as 'natural' or 'organic' since it provides color while maintaining a clean label appeal. Lycopene is completely natural and suitable for all dietary preferences including vegetarian, vegan, halal, and kosher diets. It contains no allergens and is actually considered beneficial to health - the same lycopene that colors your food is also a powerful antioxidant that may support heart health and protect against certain diseases. Unlike some natural colorings that can fade or change under different conditions, lycopene is relatively stable, making it a practical choice for food manufacturers.