journal article·2026-02Open access

Could Edible Photonic Structures Be an Alternative to Traditional Food Coloring?

Miguel A. Cerqueira, Nicolas Vogel, Martin Lopez‐Garcia, Krassimir P. Velikov, Silvia Vignolini, Lorenzo M. Pastrana

Advanced Optical Materials· Volume 14· Issue 8

Abstract

Abstract Color is a fundamental characteristic of food, shaping the perception and influencing the expectations of flavor, freshness, and quality, and has been helpful throughout evolution to distinguish nutritious sources from potentially dangerous ones. Food producers have used these aspects to enhance visual appeal, ensure product consistency, and compensate for color loss during processing, but the use of food colorants has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years due to safety concerns. Therefore, there is a demand for new strategies toward food colorants. In this perspective, the focus is on the potential of structural color in food applications. Distinct advantages over available colorants are introduced, recent advances in edible photonic materials are highlighted, and key challenges and requirements along the entire process chain with the goal of fostering research and innovation in this emerging interdisciplinary field are critically discussed.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Dye analysis and toxicity · Pigment Synthesis and Properties · Microbial Metabolism and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory Av. Mestre José Veiga s/n Braga 4715‐330 Portugal

Institute of Interfaces and Particle Technology Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Friedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐Nürnberg (FAU) Cauerstr. 4 91058 Erlangen Germany

Instituto de Optica Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientìficas (IO−CSIC) Madrid 28006 Spain

Unilever Innovation Centre Wageningen Bronland 14 Wageningen 6708 WH The Netherlands

Van der Waals‐Zeeman Institute Institute of Physics University of Amsterdam Science Park 904 Amsterdam 1098 XH The Netherlands

Soft Condensed Matter Group Debye Institute for NanoMaterials Science Department of Physics and Astronomy Utrecht University Princetonplein 5 Utrecht 3584 CC The Netherlands

Max‐Planck‐Institut für Kolloid‐ und Grenzflächenforschung 14476 Potsdam Germany

Funding

Agencia Estatal de Investigación · Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft · HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council · Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

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