April 21/Erlanger, Ky./Marketwire -- WILD Flavors Inc. (WILD) has developed an acid-stable, naturally derived blue color additive for use in food and beverage applications. This product complements WILD's full line of Colors from Nature(R) with a brilliant blue color.

Long considered a "Holy Grail" of the color industry, there has been consistent demand for an acid stable blue color additive for food and beverages. WILD claims it will be the first in the U.S. to provide a naturally derived blue color additive that is fully suitable across most food and beverage applications. WILD's development involves natural ingredients for a blue color additive that is acid-stable with a pH range of 2.5-8.0. The current FDA-compliant blue color additives offered within the industry are only stable when applied in neutral pH products (pH 5.5-7.0).

Chief operating officer Kevin Gavin states, "Unlike previous attempts to achieve blue colors for applications by leveraging the stabilization of red cabbage or other anthocyanin based colors at a neutral pH, WILD's new blue color additive is unique in that it is truly acid-stable. This patent-pending, proprietary technology will revolutionize the industry with beautiful 'hues of blue' suitable for a wide range of food and beverage applications. The color technology will also enable us to create an excellent spectrum of other colors, ranging from light blue-to-forest green, as well as blue-to-purple shades."

WILD's naturally-derived blue color additive is manufactured completely with fresh fruit and, therefore, exempt from certification under Section 21 CFR 73.250. The company claims it is:
 --  Liquid
 --  Heat, light, and acid-stable
 --  Kosher
 --  Water-soluble
 --  GMO-free
 --  Clean taste and smell
 --  Brilliant blue color
 --  Easy-to-blend with other natural colors for a wide variety of color choices
 --  Easy to use

From the April 27, 2009, Prepared Foods E-dition