Colorant for food and pharmaceuticals

The use of alpha-zeacarotene, beta-zeacarotene or a mixture of both as a coloring agent for food or pharmaceutical compositions. For addition to the food or pharmaceutical composition or otherwise incorporation therein during its preparation the zeacarotene (mixture) is generally first formulated to a solid or liquid colorant composition in the form of a stable water-soluble or -dispersible powder, an aqueous colloidal solution or oil-in-water dispersion of such powder, an oil-in-water dispersion of the zeacarotene (mixture), or an oil-soluble dispersion of the zeacarotene (mixture) in a triglyceride. In a solid colorant composition the zeacarotene (mixture) is generally finely dispersed in a matrix or carrier. Such colorant compositions may be prepared by homogenizing, in an aqueous or colloidal solution of a carrier and optionally one or more water-soluble excipients and/or adjuvants, a solution or dispersion of the zeacarotene (mixture) and optionally one or more fat-soluble excipients and/or adjuvants in a triglyceride or an organic solvent, or in a mixture of both triglyceride and organic solvent, and, if required, converting the so obtained dispersion into a solid composition. The colorant compositions, their processes of preparation and the food or pharmaceutical compositions which comprise the zeacarotene (mixture) as the coloring agent are further aspects of this invention.