Botanical Ingredients Lend Color and More to Food and Beverage Products

When expanding their line of teas into "-ades," product developers at Honest Tea Beverage Co. ( www.honesttea.com ), Bethesda, Md., wanted the color to reflect the natural state of the product. "We wanted to create a lower-sugar, USDA-certified-organic thirst quencher, similar to the Honest Tea line, but without the tea," says Samme Menke, the company's public relations manager. "We strive to provide a number of different options for our consumers, ranging in the types of fruit notes they can come to expect, as well as types of beverages."

The resulting Honest Ade line of six beverages is as colorful as it is flavorful. And it all comes naturally … although not without careful selection of the color additives.

"The spectrum of natural colors available to us is limited, and since our products are organic certified, our toolbox is even smaller," says Mike Petrone, Honest Tea's product development manager. But he also points out another advantage to using natural colorants: the nutrient content. Switching to natural not only builds a positive label through what isn't there, but also what is.

The FDA defines two types of color additives: those exempt from certification (which can include those so-called "natural") and those subject to certification (typically "synthetic" or "artificial"). However, there's a big hitch when it comes to labeling: If you color your food with a substance that's not an inherit component of that food, you can't label it "natural."

For example, purple carrot juice isn't naturally found in elderberries, so it's considered an artificial coloring when added to elderberry juice. You can, however, include it on the label just as it is, i.e. "Blackberries, elderberries, purple carrot juice (for color)."

In the push to meet consumer demands for more organic and natural choices, true success is in such details. "Consumers are increasingly educated and loyal to products with clean labels and easily understood ingredient lists," says Tom Tsimboukis, marketing director for Milwaukee-based Sensient Technologies ( www.sensient-tech.com ). "They want cleaner, more wholesome ingredients in products."

The naturalness that makes botanically derived colorants more attractive, however, also presents technical challenges. "Natural colors require constant innovation to improve their vibrancy and stability," he continues. "Part of this innovation lies in developing more stable botanical sources, identifying new sources and even developing new plant hybrids.

Health-Tips: Benefits of Carrot Juice

Raw carrot can be easily digested by the body. However, carrot juice is easier to consume. Before making carrot juice, always wash the carrots thoroughly and scrub them with a brush. If the carrots are old, or not organic, peel their outer layer and then blend them to make carrot juice. You can also mix carrot juice with juices of other fruits like oranges, bananas, blueberries, etc to improve the taste and nutritional value of the juice. If you want to ensure that you get the maximum carrot juice health benefits, then drink fresh carrot juice, and avoid bottled carrot juice, since they contain preservatives, and have less nutritional value. A cup, i.e., 8 ounces of carrot juice contains only around 90 calories. A cup of carrot juice meets all the daily requirements of the body, but try not to drink more than one cup of carrot juice, per day, as there is a possibility that it will cause your skin color to change to a shade of orange. As carrot juice is high in natural sugars, people who are diabetics, should consult their doctor, before going on a carrot juice diet.     Carrot juice contains carotenoids, which help protect the heart. Regular consumption of carrot juice, reduces the possibility of a heart attack.     Carotenoids in carrots, contribute to blood sugar regulation.     There is lot of research going on about the association between carrot juice and cancer. Carrots contain a phytonutrient called falcarinol. This nutrient helps in protection against colon cancer.     Beta-carotene in carrot juice is good for vision, and is especially contributory to the improvement of night vision.     Many smoking related problems can be prevented, by beta-carotene present in carrot juice.     Carrot juice is good for nursing mothers, as it helps to improve the quality of breast milk.     By drinking carrot juice, hair, skin and nails start looking better.     Carrot juice contains essential oils, which help in proper digestion, and thus helping in the prevention of acne.     Drink carrot juice in summers. The nutrients in carrot juice will protect your skin against tanning. It also helps the skin to heal any damage caused by the sun.     One of the best carrot juice health benefits for skin is that antioxidants in carrot juice, slow down the process of aging.

Fresh vegetable and fruit juices, what's missing in your body?

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