Higher tomato lycopene levels allowed in meat

THE USDA has approved a five-fold increase in tomato lycopene levels allowed as colourant in ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products. This is good news for manufacturers of such products as deli meat, sausage, and hotdog.

FD&C Red #40 and carmine add reddish hues to processed and deli meat ; lycored based food colours may now be used as alternative

The USDA decision changes the ballgame for us,” said Roee Nir, manager, Colorant Business Unit, LycoRed Ltd, Israel. “We now may offer RTE meat manufacturers dramatic colour options that previously were only attainable with artificial or insect-derived colours.”

Lycopene, derived from tomatoes, is a carotenoid valued for its antioxidant health benefits. It is used in LycoRed’s food colours, which can now replace FD&C Red #40 and carmine, commonly used in some processed foods.  The Tomat-O-Red?, sourced from non-GMO tomatoes, produces red hues similar to artificial and insect-based colours.

Clean-label colourants may now be used in RTE beef, pork and poultry products, as well as RTE meats for kosher and Halal markets, which prohibit foods coloured with carmine.