USDA Issues Five-Fold Increase in Tomato Lycopene Limit for Meat

22 Sep 2014 --- In a game-changing move, the USDA approved a five-fold increase in the level of tomato lycopene allowed as a colorant in ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products. This increase allows tomato lycopene colorants from manufacturer LycoRed Ltd., Israel, to effectively replace FD&C Red #40 and carmine in a wide assortment of deli meats, sausage and hot dogs. LycoRed’s Tomat-O-Red produces red hues similar to those from artificial and insect-based colors

Speaking to FoodIngredientsFirst, Colorant Business Unit Manager, Roee Nir, said: “This is a very big opportunity for us as traditionally sausages have been colored either with synthetic colors or with carmine. We can offer a natural coloring solution from tomato lycopene and we see this as a big growth area. One benefit we can offer is that our colorants are protected from the high fat content of the meat and can therefore hold color very well. Our colors are also halal and kosher certified.”

Natural food-color applications for global meat product launches, as tracked by Innova Market Insights, showed a 21% increase in product launch activity in 2012 over 2011, and a further 5% increase in 2013 from 2012.

“The USDA decision changes the ballgame for us,” said Nir. “We now may offer RTE meat manufacturers dramatic color options that previously were only attainable with artificial or insect-derived colors.” Both of the LycoRed clean-label colorants are acceptable for use in RTE beef, pork and poultry products, as well as RTE meats for the fast-growing kosher and halal markets. Kosher and halal rules forbid products colored with carmine.

The heat- and light-stable colorants are based on lycopene, a carotenoid highly valued for its antioxidant health benefits.

Tomat-O-Red is sourced strictly from non-GMO tomatoes. LycoRed oversees production from the farmer’s fields to the finished product. This dependable tomato supply also translates into stable pricing for the processed meat manufacturer. Soon, LycoRed will be launching new, natural tomato-based ingredients for clean-label use.