Lycopene
Lycopene is a food-grade red to orange-red carotenoid colour used in selected food and beverage systems where visual identity, shade standardisation, natural-origin colour positioning and batch-to-batch colour consistency are important. This page is prepared for procurement, R&D, QA and regulatory teams that need to compare lycopene source, assay, colour strength, dispersibility, oxidation stability, label requirements, documentation and export-ready supply options.
Product identity
| Product | Lycopene |
|---|---|
| Category | Colours & Colouring Foods |
| Function | Food colour / colouring food / colour standardisation ingredient |
| E / INS number | E160d / INS 160d where permitted |
| CAS / identity | 502-65-8 |
| Chemical family | Carotenoid hydrocarbon pigment |
| Shade range | Red, tomato-red, orange-red or pink-red depending on concentration, dispersion and food matrix |
| Typical form | Oil suspension, oleoresin, powder, beadlet, emulsion, water-dispersible powder, liquid dispersion or standardized extract grade |
| Key buyer check | Confirm source, lycopene assay, colour strength, carrier, solubility/dispersibility, stability, permitted use and label declaration |
Application fit
Potential use areas may include products where red to orange-red shade, natural colour positioning and controlled colour stability are required.
- Beverages, drink concentrates and powdered beverages
- Confectionery, gummies, jellies and sugar systems
- Dairy desserts, yogurts, ice cream and plant-based desserts
- Sauces, dressings, culinary bases and tomato-style products
- Snacks, extruded products and seasoning coatings
- Bakery fillings, fruit preparations and dessert toppings
- Nutritional powders, premixes and supplement-style products where permitted
Technical purchasing notes
When reviewing Lycopene, compare the supplier specification against the intended food application, target shade, process conditions, label expectations and local rules. Industrial buyers should not approve a lycopene colour only by name. The final colour result depends on lycopene assay, source, carrier system, oil or water dispersibility, particle size, emulsion quality, oxidation protection, pH, heat exposure, light exposure, packaging and interaction with other ingredients.
Colour functionality
- Red-orange shade development: supports tomato-red, fruit-red, orange-red and pink-red visual profiles depending on dose and matrix.
- Colour standardisation: can help reduce natural raw-material colour variation in sauces, fruit systems, desserts and beverage bases.
- Natural-origin positioning: tomato-derived or permitted natural-source grades may support natural colour programs where the market allows the claim.
- Oil-phase colouring: lipophilic grades can be suitable for fat-containing systems, fillings, sauces, dressings and seasoning oil carriers.
- Water-dispersible colouring: emulsified or beadlet grades can support beverages, dairy desserts, confectionery and powdered mixes.
- Shade blending: may be combined with beta-carotene, paprika, annatto, carmine, beetroot, anthocyanins or colouring foods where permitted and technically compatible.
Performance depends on
- Lycopene assay and colour strength
- Source: tomato extract, concentrate or other permitted source
- Oil-soluble, water-dispersible, emulsion or powder format
- Particle size, emulsion stability and carrier selection
- Oxygen, light, heat and metal-ion exposure
- pH, acidity, fat content and emulsifier system
- Processing step: pasteurisation, UHT, baking, extrusion or frying
- Packaging barrier, headspace oxygen and shelf-life target
Source, grade and format selection
Lycopene is supplied in several industrial formats. The correct grade depends on whether the finished product is oil-based, water-based, powdered, clear, opaque, heat-treated, aerated, acidic or exposed to light. A tomato lycopene oleoresin may perform well in an oil-containing sauce, while a water-dispersible beadlet or emulsion may be more suitable for beverages or dairy desserts. Powdered beverage and dry-mix systems often require encapsulated or water-dispersible grades to improve dispersion and reduce staining or specking.
| Commercial format | Industrial use consideration |
|---|---|
| Oil suspension or oleoresin | Often used in fat-containing systems such as sauces, dressings, fillings, snack seasonings and oil-based colour blends. |
| Tomato lycopene concentrate | Useful where a concentrated lycopene source and source-specific regulatory status are required. Confirm assay, solvent residue and colour strength. |
| Water-dispersible powder | Designed for beverages, dairy desserts, instant mixes and aqueous systems. Check dispersion time, sediment, ring formation and colour uniformity. |
| Beadlet or microencapsulated grade | Improves handling, dispersion and oxidation protection in dry blends. Confirm carrier, encapsulation system, particle size and allergen/GMO status. |
| Liquid emulsion | Useful for rapid dosing into beverages, dairy systems and sauces. Check emulsion stability, droplet size, viscosity and preservative system. |
| Colouring food or extract blend | May support clean-label positioning depending on source and market. Confirm whether the product is legally a colouring food, food additive or ingredient. |
Specification parameters to evaluate
A professional Lycopene inquiry should include measurable colour, quality and compliance parameters. Procurement teams should compare the technical data sheet, certificate of analysis and buyer specification before approving the material for commercial use.
| Parameter | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Lycopene assay | Primary active-content value for supplier comparison, dose calculation and cost-in-use evaluation. |
| Colour strength / absorbance | Supports shade matching, batch standardisation and reformulation when changing suppliers or formats. |
| Source declaration | Important for regulatory approval, natural-origin positioning, vegetarian/vegan status and customer acceptance. |
| Carrier and formulation system | Determines suitability for oil-based, aqueous, powdered, acidic or heat-treated applications. |
| All-trans / cis isomer profile | Can influence shade, stability and supplier comparison where detailed carotenoid profiling is required. |
| Particle size or droplet size | Affects dispersion, sedimentation, opacity, colour uniformity, ring formation and mouthfeel. |
| Solubility / dispersibility | Critical for beverages, dairy desserts, sauces, powders and instant systems where specking or separation is unacceptable. |
| Oxidation stability | Lycopene can fade or shift shade under oxygen, light, heat and metal-ion exposure. Stability data supports shelf-life design. |
| Residual solvents | Important for extracted grades and destination-market compliance. |
| Peroxide value / oil quality | Relevant for oil-based colour preparations where carrier oil oxidation can affect taste, odour and pigment stability. |
| Heavy metals | Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury limits should match food-grade and destination-market requirements. |
| Microbiological limits | Important for ready-to-use liquid colours, dairy applications, beverage systems and low-heat products. |
| Allergen, GMO, halal, kosher and vegan status | Often required by brand owners, retailers, importers, certification bodies and private-label manufacturers. |
| Shelf life and storage | Defines light protection, oxygen protection, temperature control and first-expired-first-out inventory planning. |
Application examples
| Application area | Typical reason for evaluation | Buyer questions to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Beverages | Red-orange shade, natural-origin colour positioning and colour standardisation | Is the grade water-dispersible? Does it resist ring formation, sediment, light fading, pasteurisation and pH-related instability? |
| Confectionery | Fruit-red shade in gummies, jellies, coatings and sugar systems | Does the colour survive cooking temperature, acid addition, aeration, drying and packaging exposure? |
| Dairy desserts | Pink-red to orange-red colour in yogurts, desserts, ice cream and plant-based alternatives | Is the colour compatible with proteins, fat level, stabilizers, pasteurisation, homogenisation and cold storage? |
| Sauces and culinary bases | Tomato-red visual enhancement and batch colour correction | Does the colour remain stable after heating, acidification, oil separation control and shelf-life storage? |
| Snacks and seasonings | Red-orange shade in seasoning coatings, extruded snacks and topical applications | Is the grade compatible with oils, salt, acids, spices, frying exposure and packaging oxygen? |
| Powdered beverages and premixes | Dry colour dosing, shade standardisation and reconstitution performance | Does the powder disperse without specking, staining, clumping, sediment or colour-ring formation? |
| Nutritional products | Visual identity and carotenoid colour positioning in powders, tablets or liquid nutrition systems | Are source, claims, label declaration, carrier system and dosage acceptable in the target market? |
Colour matching and stability validation
Shade target
Define the target shade using a physical reference, L*a*b* value, absorbance range or approved production sample. Lycopene shade can look different in clear beverages, opaque dairy systems, fat-rich sauces and dry seasonings.
Process exposure
Run colour trials through the actual process, including mixing, homogenisation, pasteurisation, hot filling, baking, extrusion, frying, drying or freezing. Bench dispersion alone is not enough for industrial approval.
Light and oxygen control
Lycopene can be sensitive to oxygen and light. Evaluate packaging barrier, headspace oxygen, transparent packaging, UV exposure and antioxidant systems during accelerated and real-time shelf-life studies.
Ingredient interactions
Metal ions, oxidants, emulsifiers, proteins, acids, flavors, hydrocolloids and carrier oils can change colour strength or stability. Test the complete formulation, not only water or oil model systems.
Dispersibility
For beverages and dairy systems, check dispersion time, sediment, neck-ring formation, oiling-off, staining, turbidity and colour uniformity after storage and temperature cycling.
Supplier substitution
Do not substitute oleoresin, beadlet, emulsion, water-dispersible powder or colouring-food grades without recalculating colour strength and validating shade, stability, label declaration and process behavior.
Regulatory and labeling review
Lycopene E160d should be reviewed according to the destination market, food category, source and intended function. Depending on the product and jurisdiction, Lycopene may be handled as a food colour, colour additive, colouring food, extract, ingredient or standardized colour preparation. The buyer should confirm permitted food categories, source restrictions, maximum use levels, declaration format, additive class name, additive number, carrier declaration, allergen/GMO expectations, halal/kosher requirements and retailer restrictions before formula approval.
Quality and compliance documents to request
- Product specification or technical data sheet with exact identity, CAS number, E / INS number and food-grade statement
- Certificate of analysis for the offered batch or representative current lot
- Lycopene assay, colour strength, absorbance data and test method where available
- Source declaration, extraction or production method summary and carrier-system information
- Residual solvent declaration for extracted grades where applicable
- Particle-size, droplet-size, dispersibility and emulsion-stability information where available
- Oxidation stability, light stability and heat stability guidance where available
- Safety data sheet where applicable
- Origin statement, manufacturer statement and country-of-origin documentation
- Allergen declaration, GMO declaration and BSE/TSE statement when required
- Halal, kosher, vegan or vegetarian status when required by the buyer or destination market
- Heavy-metal limits, microbiological limits and contaminant declarations
- Shelf-life, storage, light-protection, oxygen-protection and opened-pack handling guidance
- Label draft, packaging details, pallet configuration and container loading information
- Market-specific declarations required by the destination country, importer, retailer or brand owner
Packaging, storage and logistics notes
Lycopene is normally supplied as an oil-based colour, oleoresin, powder, beadlet, emulsion, liquid dispersion or standardized extract. Because carotenoid colours can be sensitive to oxygen, light and heat, packaging should protect the product from oxidation, UV exposure, moisture uptake, temperature abuse, damaged seals and contamination. For export shipments, buyers should confirm packaging size, liner or container type, net weight, pallet wrapping, temperature requirements, batch coding, label language, shelf-life basis and document legalization needs before order confirmation.
Typical packing options to confirm
- Foil bags or foil-lined cartons for dry beadlets and powder grades
- Light-protected drums, cans or pails for oil suspensions and oleoresins
- HDPE drums, IBCs or sealed containers for liquid dispersions where available
- Nitrogen-flushed or low-oxygen packaging for oxidation-sensitive grades where offered
- Small packs for high-strength colour concentrates or R&D trials
- Neutral-label, customer-label or private-label options when permitted
Warehouse controls
- Store according to supplier temperature instructions
- Protect from direct sunlight, UV exposure and high heat
- Keep containers tightly closed when not in use
- Minimize headspace oxygen after opening where practical
- Protect from strong odors, oxidizing chemicals and moisture
- Use first-expired-first-out inventory rotation
- Define opened-pack resealing and production-area handling procedures
Supplier qualification checklist
How to request this product
Send the product name, target shade, required source, format, lycopene assay or colour strength, intended food application, process conditions, first order quantity, annual demand, destination country, delivery term, packaging preference, expected shipment date and document requirements. If you already purchase Lycopene, attach your current specification, certificate of analysis, label, safety data sheet, colour target or approved supplier document so available sourcing options can be compared accurately.
For faster review, include whether the required material is for beverages, confectionery, dairy desserts, sauces, snacks, seasonings, powdered mixes, nutrition products, private label, tender supply, distributor inventory or toll manufacturing. This helps Global Food Additives match the inquiry with the correct specification level, colour format, documentation package and logistics route.
Useful answers
What is Lycopene used for in food manufacturing?
Lycopene is typically evaluated for red to orange-red shade development, colour standardisation, natural-origin colour positioning and visual identity in selected food and beverage systems. Exact suitability depends on source, grade, format, application, process, dosage, regulation and supplier documents.
Is Lycopene water soluble?
Lycopene itself is lipophilic, so water-based foods usually require an emulsion, beadlet or water-dispersible powder. Oil-based grades should not be used in beverages or dairy systems without confirming dispersion and stability.
Can Lycopene fade during shelf life?
Yes. Lycopene colour can be affected by oxygen, light, heat, metal ions, oxidizing ingredients, packaging and storage temperature. Finished-product stability testing is recommended before commercial approval.
Which specification details are most important?
Important details include lycopene assay, colour strength, source, carrier system, all-trans/cis isomer profile, dispersibility, particle size or droplet size, oxidation stability, residual solvents, heavy metals, microbiology, packaging and shelf life.
Is tomato lycopene the only available source?
Tomato-derived lycopene is widely used, but source options depend on supplier, production method and market approval. Buyers should confirm source, extraction method, permitted use and label declaration before purchase.
Can Lycopene be blended with other colours?
It may be blended with other permitted colours or colouring foods to adjust hue, cost-in-use and stability. Compatibility, label declaration and regulatory approval must be checked for the final blend and target market.
Which documents should be requested?
Buyers commonly request a technical data sheet, certificate of analysis, safety data sheet, food-grade statement, source declaration, origin statement, shelf-life information, stability guidance, allergen declaration, GMO declaration, halal or kosher certificate where needed, packaging details and pallet configuration.
Is this product permitted in every country?
No. Permission depends on destination-market rules, source, food category, intended function, maximum permitted level, label declaration and buyer responsibility. Local regulatory verification is required before use.
Can Global Food Additives source Lycopene?
Global Food Additives can review sourcing options for Lycopene according to the requested source, format, colour strength, target specification, application, quantity, destination, delivery term, packaging and documentation requirements.
What information should I include in a quotation request?
Include product name, target shade, source preference, format, lycopene assay or colour strength, application, process conditions, quantity, destination country, preferred packaging, delivery term, required documents, shipment timing and any existing COA or approved-supplier specification.
Tell us which food additive or ingredient you need.
Send product names, target specifications, quantity, destination country, packaging preference, delivery term, and document requirements. Our team will review your inquiry and respond from orders@foodgradeadditives.com.
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