Microbial and Microalgal Carotenoids as Colourants and Supplements

Abstract

General aspects of the production and use of carotenoids as colourants and supplements were discussed in Chapter 4. For several decades, these carotenoids have been produced commercially by chemical synthesis or as plant extracts or oleoresins, e.g. of tomato and red pepper. Some unicellular green algae, under appropriate conditions, become red due to the accumulation of high concentrations of ‘secondary’ carotenoids. Two examples, Dunaliella spp. and Haematococcus pluvialis, are cultured extensively as sources of β-carotene (3) and (3S,3′S)-astaxanthin (406), respectively. Non-photosynthetic microorganisms, i.e. bacteria, yeasts and moulds, may also be strongly pigmented by carotenoids, so commercial production by these organisms is an attractive prospect. Penetration into the food industry by fermentation-derived ingredients is increasing year after year, examples being thickening or gelling agents (xanthan, curdlan, gellan), flavour enhancers (yeast hydrolysate, monosodium glutamate), flavour compounds (γ-decalactone, diacetyl, methyl ketones), and acidulants (lactic acid, citric acid). Fermentation processes for pigment production on a commercial scale were developed later but some are now in use in the food industry, such as production of β-carotene from the fungus Blakeslea trispora, in Europe, and the non-carotenoid heterocyclic pigments from Monascus, in Asia [1–3]. Efforts have been made to reduce the production costs so that pigments produced by fermentation can be competitive with synthetic pigments or with those extracted from natural sources. There is scope for innovations to improve the economics of carotenoid production by isolating new microorganisms, creating better ones, or improving the processes.