Feed & Additive Magazine Issue 47 December 2024

ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2024 41 and lycopene, astaxanthin has no pro-oxidant properties, and is known as a “pure antioxidant”. ADDED SENSORY APPEAL Astaxanthin not only promises beneficial health effects but also contributes to the appeal of pet food. Colour is an important factor in pet food purchasing, with most pet owners associating vibrant and natural-looking hues with freshness and overall product quality. Traditionally, artificial and nature-identical colours have been used to compensate for the loss of colour during pet food manufacturing processes. However, the use of artificial colourants in pet food formulations and their possible long-term impact on health have led to growing concerns among pet parents. They like their pet’s meals to come in natural, bright and appealing colours that align with the anticipated flavours. This means that they expect a product containing spinach to be green, for example, or one containing beef to have an authentic reddish-brown appearance. Even though their furry friends may not mind and have a more limited colour spectrum than humans, pet food producers are encouraged to still respect the pet owners’ concerns and consider their preferences. Today, successful brands are emphasizing the health-promoting properties of every single ingredient in their formulations, including the colour sources. Furthermore, they endeavour to create the desired sensory profile through the use of natural and functional ingredients. SEARCH FOR NATURAL COLOURS As a red carotenoid, astaxanthin imparts its colour to many crustacea and fish such as salmon and trout. In fact, its original industrial purpose was in aquaculture, where it was used to support the pigmentation of salmon – which also led to the systematic research into its health benefits. Today, astaxanthin is still a common component of aquaculture, both in its synthetic and natural versions. However, growing concerns about the safety and environmental impact of artificial additives, as well as health concerns surrounding the use of synthetic ingredients, are further driving demand for astaxanthin of natural origin. The natural astaxanthin application is no longer limited to aquaculture and fish pigmentation. Over the past decade

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