LycoRed boosts production of natural red colour Tomat-O-Red

Nutraceutical ingredients company LycoRed has announced that it has doubled the production of Tomat-O-Red, an all-natural red colour based on lycopene, to meet the growing demand among food and beverage manufacturers.

The company attributes the rise in demand for the FDA-approved colourant to consumer awareness for vegan and natural red colour, which is influencing food-making decisions of retailers and food manufacturers.

Dairy food and beverages are the main markets for vegan and natural ingredients but the company hopes to extend into the bakery, confectionery and cosmetics sector.

LycoRed president and CEO Morris Zelkha said that the company’s red colour is natural, vegan-friendly and free of additives, which is especially significant given the recent public criticism over the use of cochineal extract, which derives from beetles.

"We are prepared to assist processors of all sizes, and help them to take advantage of the product’s many attributes and benefits," Zelkha added.

The demand for lycopene, both as a colour additive and nutritional supplement, is predicted to increase globally over the next few years. According to a report from independent analysis group BCC Research, the worldwide market for lycopene could touch $84m by 2018, up from $66m in 2010.

Tomat-O-Red is an antioxidant-rich lycopene compound derived from non-genetically modified (GMO) tomatoes grown in Israel and California, US. It is vegan, kosher and halal-certified and categorised as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe), with a long shelf-life.

The colour is also stable under various food processing conditions, including high temperature, UV light and low pH. It comes in a range of red-based colours, and can be used in multiple food and beverage applications, including milk, yogurt, ice cream, surimi, chewing gum, and confectionery products.

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Image: LycoRed said the market for all-vegan and all-natural food colours will grow in the next years. Photo: LycoRed