BASF introduces Lucarotin® 10 CWD (Cold Water Dispersible) / O (Orange) Plus, a brilliant orange colorant. This new color option helps formulators looking to replace Azo dyes yellow 5 and 6 in beverages, soups, confections, and nutrition products.

The 10% beta-carotene powder is a nature-identical color option that is typically labeled as beta-carotene (color) in the USA.  It disperses quickly and easily without adversely impacting the product’s sensory characteristics. The active ingredient is an exempt color additive (21 CFR part 73) that is derived from natural or nature identical sources, and is therefore exempt from the FDA certification process.  BASF’s Lucarotin portfolio of yellow and orange-red colors conform to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and meets the regulatory requirements for use as a color in most countries.

This newest launch delivers unsurpassed ease of use and stability, even when used at cold temperatures.  Beverage and confection producers value this ease of use to avoid quality issues which can result when a colorant does not disperse properly. In side-by-side comparison tests with competitive products, Lucarotin consistently disperses significantly more quickly.

“BASF’s Lucarotin beta-carotene products are stable to light and heat and work especially well in beverages, soups and confections,” says Brad Hayhoe, Carotenoids Regional Product Manager, BASF Nutrition & Health, North America. 

When companies combine these technical benefits with Lucarotin’s robust color, it’s a win for both formulators and consumers. Depending on the application and amount of Lucarotin used, food producers may include a vitamin A or antioxidant label claim.  

“Market research shows that consumers taste with their eyes so color directly impacts how a product is perceived,” Hayhoe explains. “This phenomenon combined with consumers’ growing desire for simpler labels is driving interest in innovations like Lucarotin.”

In 2015, the global market in natural colors was worth an estimated $970 million, up 60% since 2011, according to the New York Times. Natural colors now represent more than half the food-colors market in dollar terms. As the market continues to grow for allergen-free and vegan colors, and as consumers demand more natural solutions, BASF’s applications team is helping support formulators with hands-on training and color-matching guidance. 

For more information on Lucarotin, please contact Daniel Van Deventer at daniel.vandeventer@basf.com or +1 973 245-6145.

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, N.J., is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.4 billion in 2015. 

For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 112,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of more than €70 billion in 2015. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). 

Further information at www.basf.com.