Rhodoxanthin
Encyclopedia
Rhodoxanthin is a xanthophyll
pigment
with a purple color that is found in small quantities in a variety plants including Taxus baccata
. It is also found in the feathers of some birds. As a food additive
it is used under the E number
E161f as a food coloring
; it is not approved for use in the EU or USA however is approved in Australia and New Zealand (where it is listed under its INS number 161f).
Xanthophyll
Xanthophylls are yellow pigments that form one of two major divisions of the carotenoid group. The name is from Greek xanthos + phyllon , due to their formation of the yellow band seen in early chromatography of leaf pigments...
pigment
Pigment
A pigment is a material that changes the color of reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which a material emits light.Many materials selectively absorb...
with a purple color that is found in small quantities in a variety plants including Taxus baccata
Taxus baccata
Taxus baccata is a conifer native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, northern Iran and southwest Asia. It is the tree originally known as yew, though with other related trees becoming known, it may be now known as the English yew, or European yew.-Description:It is a small-...
. It is also found in the feathers of some birds. As a food additive
Food additive
Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance its taste and appearance.Some additives have been used for centuries; for example, preserving food by pickling , salting, as with bacon, preserving sweets or using sulfur dioxide as in some wines...
it is used under the E number
E number
E numbers are number codes for food additives that have been assessed for use within the European Union . They are commonly found on food labels throughout the European Union. Safety assessment and approval are the responsibility of the European Food Safety Authority...
E161f as a food coloring
Food coloring
Food coloring is a substance, liquid or powder, that is added to food or drink to change its color. Food coloring is used both in commercial food production and in domestic cooking...
; it is not approved for use in the EU or USA however is approved in Australia and New Zealand (where it is listed under its INS number 161f).