Lutein
What it does
Yellow colour.
How it's made
Extracted from marigold flowers and green plants.
Lutein is a natural yellow carotenoid pigment found in marigold flowers, green leafy vegetables and egg yolks. As a food colour it gives yellow shades, and it is the same pigment associated with eye health in the diet.
It is obtained mainly by extracting marigold (Tagetes) flowers, which are especially rich in lutein. The dried flower petals are extracted with food-grade solvents to dissolve out the fat-soluble pigment, and the extract is then concentrated and often saponified (treated with alkali) to free the lutein from the natural fatty acids it is attached to, increasing its colour strength.
The purified lutein is standardised and, being fat-soluble, supplied in oil-dispersed or water-dispersible forms. It gives natural-looking yellows and is used in foods, drinks and animal feed (where it deepens egg-yolk and poultry-skin colour).
Possible reactions
Generally safe.