4. Conclusion
In conclusion, Jagua blue pigments were characterized by a color hue similar to the synthetic food colorant Blue no. 2. Compared to Blue no. 2, Jagua blue displayed markedly higher color stabilities in both aqueous solutions under acidic to low acidic conditions and a gelatin-based gel. However, the color hue of Jagua blue did not match that of Blue no. 1. Nevertheless, since Jagua blue is composed of several different polymers displaying a variety of blue hues, further studies are required to investi- gate their individual color properties, aiming at complete conformity to Blue no. 1. Although the color hue of Spirulina solutions was comparable to that of Blue no. 1, its susceptibly to acidic pH imparted by its proteinogenic nature has to be considered when applying to food. First-order kinetics suggested for the thermal degradation of Jagua blue may be instrumental to predict color decay in dyed food.
According to the results presented, Jagua blue may be considered a promising natural alternative for coloring at acidic to low acidic pH ranges. Noteworthy, since Jagua blue is produced from a plant-derived raw material, variations in its composition, and thus color intensity may naturally occur. Therefore, clearly defined quality parameters have been specified for Jagua blue to ensure consistent color and batch uniformity of the final preparation. Finally, in order to meet the legal requirements for introducing Jagua blue on the EU and US markets, further investigations with focus on safety assessments should be per- formed as specified in the Commission Recommendation 97/618/EC under the Novel Food Regulation (EC) No 258/97 and in 21 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 71 by the FDA (Food and Drug Administra- tion), respectively.