Enhancing Egg Yolk Color With Natural Pigments

The physical appearance of the food is of great importance for its acceptance and demand in the market for consumers. While considering eggs along with shell color, taste, and appearance, yolk color is one of the most important factors in consumer perception of food quality, it influences consumer behavior and preferences for eggs. Carotenoids act as natural color pigments in a wide variety of organisms, including plants, algae, and some animals. They are responsible for the yellow, orange, and red hues found in fruits, vegetables, flowers, and even animal products like egg yolk and salmon fish.

With the well-known functional properties of carotenoids such as antioxidant and anti-inflammation, fortification and enrichment of edible eggs with carotenoids can increase the content of carotenoids in egg yolk and improve the appearance of eggs. The principle of egg yolk pigmentation relies on carotenoid-rich diets, efficient absorption, and deposition of these pigments into the yolk. As the content of carotenoids in the feed increases, their concentration in the egg yolk rises in direct proportion.

Producers usually control and enhance yolk color by managing and optimizing the hen's diet to meet consumer preferences and standards.

Yellow and Red Carotenoid Pigments:

Absorption spectra of carotenoid pigments and La Roche scale

The wavelengths of the colours of the carotenoids used for egg yolk pigmentation fall between 400–500 nm (blue-green region) within the visible range of the color spectrum. To the human eye, such compounds are yellow to red. Yellow and orange carotenoids have a wavelength range of 445 to 450 nm, whereas red carotenoids have a wavelength range of 465 to 470 nm.

La Roche scale for the determination of the color of the egg yolk

The scale relates a given color of yolk to a numerical value on a scale of 1-15, from lowest to highest color intensity

Absorption and transport of carotenoids to egg yolks:

Like other animals, dietary carotenoids are absorbed by birds through the intestinal mucosa in the form of portomicrons and transported to the liver via blood. In the liver, they are packed into lipoproteins and transported to peripheral organs, including the reproductive system, during oocyte development, which results in egg yolk pigment deposition.

Key challenges of using synthetic pigments:

Synthetic pigment like apo-ester is most commonly used as a commercial source of color. However, some research data suggest that these substances can negatively affect human health. Hence, a demand for natural alternatives to synthetic pigments, for use in egg and broiler chicken skin colouring, is increasing to mitigate the harmful impacts of synthetic ingredients on consumer health.

Natural Pigments:

Natural sources of carotenoids such as marigolds, lutein, paprika, etc. promote a higher carotenoid concentration, increasing carotenoid deposition in egg yolk and improving egg quality. Natural pigments can be used as a way to substitute the use of synthetic pigment in the diet without affecting performance and the poultry egg quality.

Depending upon the requirement of the intensity of yellow and red color deposition, we have a natural feed additive specifically for poultry, supporting both egg yolk and broiler skin pigmentation.

VINYELLOW

Yellow Egg Colorant

'Vin-Yellow' is obtained from marigold flowers and provides a bright yellow color to egg yolks. These carotenoids are absorbed and deposited in the yolk, giving it a natural yellow shade.

VINRED

Red Egg Colorant

Vin-Red is obtained from Paprika extract and provides a reddish or orange hue to the egg yolk. These carotenoids are absorbed and deposited in the yolk, giving it a natural orange-red shade.

By incorporating 'Vin Yellow' / ‘Vin Red’ in the poultry diet, producers can consistently achieve the desired skin and egg yolk color regardless of seasonal changes in raw material availability, ensuring a reliable and appealing product that aligns with the market expectations.

?

Vibrant Outcomes of Natural Shades in Poultry

?

*References on request

?

?

?