Chr. Hansen files patent for fermentation process of carmine

HAVING discovered the processes in the natural production of carmine, researchers from Chr Hansen, the University of Copenhagen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (KU) and Technical University of Denmark, Department of Systems Biology (DTU), have been able to develop a modern fermentation process that will reduce the cost of carmine production. Chr Hansen has filed a series of patents for the process.

Carmine, a natural red pigment used in coloring food and beverage, is produced from cultivated cochineal that lives on cactus plants. One kilo of carmine requires manual collection of 100,000 cochineals, which adds significantly to the cost of the natural color. However, fermented carmine is years from commercialization as the process needs further optimization.