Phycocyanin is a phycobiliprotein that is purified from edible spirulina by water extraction and membrane separation technology. It is the most unique active substance in the nutritional components of spirulina. Blue is pure and clear. At present, C-phycocyanin, a mixture of phycoerythrin and isophycocyanin, is mainly extracted, and other small amounts of proteins and carbohydrates naturally occurring in spirulina.
When used as a pigment, the specifications are differentiated according to color price:
At present, the conventional specification is 180 color value (the color value is converted to absorbance at 618nm by UV detection under the prescribed dilution factor). Generally adding trehalose as a carrier can increase the stability of the product. You can also customize lower, higher color price or pure powder, and the customer chooses the carrier for compounding.
When used as a nutritional supplement, some customers differentiate the specifications according to the phycocyanin content:
At present, they are customized according to the content specified by the customer.
Both the color value and content represent the content of phycocyanin in the final product, and the higher the color value, the higher the content. The 180-color product corresponds to a phycocyanin content of 25% -30%
Used as a food additive in China. It has not yet been listed in the food or new food ingredient catalog. The "Sanitary Standards for the Use of Food Additives" (GB2760-2014) stipulates that it can be used in candy, jelly, popsicles, ice cream, ice cream, cheese products, fruit juice (flavor) beverages, and the maximum use amount is 0.8g / kg.
Phycocyanin passed GRAS in the United States in 2012 and can be used as a food ingredient in all foods and dietary supplements (except baby food). As an ingredient in all foods except infant formulas and foods under USDA 's jurisdiction at levels up to a maximum of 250 milligrams per serving.
As a Spirulina Extract, it can be used in confectionery, frosting, ice cream, frozen pastry, pastry coating and decoration, solid beverage, yogurt, sand There is no limit on the amount of ingredients such as bread, pudding, cheese, gel candies, bread, ready-to-eat cereals, and dietary supplements (tablets, capsules).
As a single substance, it is not included in the food additive list (no E-number). However, the European Union has a standard to determine whether an extract can be used as a food ingredient equivalent to its source of extraction, that is, as foods with colorful property (colored food) or colorant (pigment). Phycocyanin meets this standard and can be used as a food ingredient as a spirulina extract or concentrate.
| ITEMS |
STANDARD |
RESULTS |
| Appearance |
Blue Fine Powder |
Complied |
| Algae Variety Identification |
Spirulina Platensis |
Complied |
| Taste/Odor |
Mild, taste like seaweed |
Complied |
| Moisture |
≤8.0% |
5.60% |
| Ash |
≤10.0% |
6.10% |
| Particle Size |
100% through 80 mesh |
Complied |
| Color value |
E18.0±5% |
E18.4 |
| Pesticide |
Not detected |
Not detected |
| Lead |
≤0.5ppm |
Complied |
| As |
≤0.5ppm |
Complied |
| Mercury |
≤0.1ppm |
Complied |
| Cadmium |
≤0.1ppm |
Complied |
| Total Plate Count |
≤1,000cfu/g |
500cfu/g |
| Yeast and Mold |
≤100cfu/g max |
<40cfu/g |
| Coliforms |
Negative/10g |
Negative |
| E.Coli |
Negative/10g |
Negative |
| Salmonella |
Negative/10g |
Negative |
| Staphylococcus |
Negative/10g |
Negative |
| ANALYSIS CONCLUSION |
| Comment |
This batch of product conforms to the Specification |
| Storage |
Store in cool, dry place and away from strong light and heat |
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