Ashland to Launch Natural Colors for Nutraceutical Tablet-Coating Systems

Nutraceuticals are subject to food regulations, which are more restrictive than their pharmaceutical counterparts with regard to the permitted colorants.

Sep 19 2011 --- Color-coating options for manufacturers of nutritional tablets, or nutraceuticals, are expanding thanks to Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc.. Aquarius coating systems natural colors palette, will be introduced at Supply Side West, the world’s largest event for healthy and innovative ingredients, to be held in Las Vegas, Nev., Oct. 10-14.

“Efforts by others to deliver a natural product to coat nutritional supplements have not been consistent,” said Tom Durig, Ph.D., R.Ph., technical director, Pharmaceutical and Food Ingredients, Ashland Specialty Ingredients. “Our scientists were able to eliminate natural colorants that are historically unstable and problematic, as well as minimize our offering containing aluminum-based lakes in anticipation of future restrictions.”

The Aquarius coating systems natural colors portfolio is designed to meet the regulatory requirements of the nutraceutical industry. “There is little overlap between colorants permitted in the U.S. and those permitted in the E.U. Our natural colors collection clearly designates solutions that comply with regulatory requirements for these regions of the world,” added Durig.

Nutraceuticals are subject to food regulations, which are more restrictive than their pharmaceutical counterparts with regard to the permitted colorants. Derived from vegetable, animal and mineral sources, the organic and inorganic compounds that make up the Aquarius coating systems natural colors palette are stable, label-friendly, easy to use and can be combined with Ashland’s Aquarius MG coating systems' moisture-guard line.