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In the chaos of working and raising a family, my husband and I often interact more like business partners than a married couple. Thankfully, last Sunday my husband and I escaped for a much needed ‘date night’ to reconnect and take a break from the daily routines of who was grabbing what from the store or taking a turn on carpool that night. For weeks I had been planning our dinner date and was excited to try a new Italian restaurant that opened in town. The ambiance and charm reflect an Old World feel and the candlelit tables were a definite plus, but the true test for Italian cuisine for me is in the sauce.

Genuine Italian food is known for its rich tomato-based sauces and homemade flavors, so I could not wait to taste and compare what this quaint little hole-in-the-wall had to offer. I was not disappointed! I always order ‘extra’ marinara sauce on the side to judge for quality and genuineness. When the vibrant red sauce appeared, the visual appeal did not disappoint. Appearance is one of the first criteria I use to base my opinion and just one taste had me sold!

Fresh tomato color and flavor are the keys to quality sauce, when paired with the right texture and flavor it is almost like a little taste of Italy right there on your fork. Although the restaurant owner would not share his secret recipe, he did provide a little tip that took me by surprise. He said that one of his tricks was choosing quality tomatoes…in a can! Did I hear that correctly? That bright red burst of flavor was just screaming ‘fresh tomatoes’, so of course I had to ask for the brand name. Now I can’t wait to try out my own recipe and perhaps fool some guests of my own with a canned version of ‘homemade’.

The changing chocolate marketplace is raising the bar for quality and opening up opportunities for experimentation. Image Source: Pexels user Kaboompics

Late last month, chocolate lovers received welcome news: a new study published in Heart revealed that chocolate reduces the risk of developing atrial fibrillation, a common form of heart arrhythmia.1 By examining data from the Danish Diet, Cancer and Healthy study, researchers found that people who consumed 1-3 servings of chocolate once a month had a 10% lower rate of new atrial fibrillation diagnosis than those who ate less than one serving a month. What’s more, the rate of diagnosis reduced “17% for one weekly serving, 20% for two to six weekly servings, and 14% for one or additional daily servings.”[“Chocolate May Reduce Risk of Developing Common Heart Arrhythmia”, May 24, 2017]

These findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that chocolate has the potential to protect cardiovascular health. Although most research thus far has focused on dark chocolate, the new study included both dark and milk chocolate. This follows data published in 2015 indicating that any type of chocolate reduces the risk of heart disease.2  And while doctors aren’t entirely sure why chocolate appears to benefit heart health, but they do have guesses. As Dr. Howard LeWine, chief medical editor of Harvard Health Publications, says, “It may be related to flavonoids, a type of antioxidant produced by plants. Flavonoids have been shown to help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to the brain and heart, and fight cell damage.”3

This new recognition of the health benefits of chocolate also has clear benefits for the chocolate industry, allowing for new product and marketing opportunities and changing the way the public perceives sweet treats. Dark chocolate is already outpacing milk in terms of growth, attributed largely to growing awareness of its impact on cardiovascular health. But Katrina Markoff of artisan chocolatier Vosges Chocolate believes there’s more to the story. “Dark chocolate has health benefits and that is a source of appeal, but I also believe people’s palettes are really becoming more sophisticated,” she says. “There is more awareness and curiosity about milk and dark and even different specific varietals.”4 Indeed, the high-end chocolate market has exploded in recent years, spurring major players like Nestle to develop premium offerings while also opening up the door for a niche bean-to-bar industry.

In this changing environment, there is more pressure on both industry old-timers and newcomers to produce chocolates of the highest quality. At the same time, public acceptance of new and novel products means there is also plenty of room for experimentation. And whether you are refining traditional treats or inventing new concoctions, measuring the color of chocolate is now more important than ever before.

The color of chocolate gives consumers important clues about taste and quality. Image Source: Pexels user Pixabay

Coconut water is a multi-billion dollar industry that is expected to expand globally to US$8.3 billion by 2022.1 Consumers have been drawn to coconut water’s sweet, refreshing taste and unique chemical composition, similar to blood plasma, which is rich in carbohydrates and important nutrients such as magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus.1 These nutrients also make coconut water a naturally rehydrating sports drink which has increased market appeal. Fresh coconut water from young, green coconuts is particularly valued for a delicate taste and increased antioxidant benefits.

When first poured from the coconut shell, coconut water is a clear, colorless liquid that can be combined with the interior pulp for additional texture and variety. Color changes can occur in harvesting, cracking, sterilization, and storage processes so the final beverage can fluctuate from translucent white to pale yellow and even bright pink.1 Products can also include varying levels of pulpin the liquid depending on geographical region, harvesting practices, pasteurization, and market targeting, such as coconut beverages which are sold with pulp.

Sold coconut water’s final product is a combination of the color and pulp concentration, or turbidity of the water. With so many different variables, it can be challenging to maintain a consistent product. However, Hunter Spectrophotometric technology, with innovations in color and haze measurements, can offer innovative solutions for measuring both color and haze in a single reading of coconut water for consistent, reliable production. The Haze measurement can be substituted for a turbidity measurement done on a separate instrument.

DIFFICULTIES OF CONSISTENT COLOR AND HAZE IN COCONUT WATER

When your customer picks up a cooled bottle of coconut water from the store refrigerator, what theysee through the plastic is a combination of color, usually light white to pale yellow, and pulp concentration. Strolling down the beverage aisle, there are many different brands of coconut water, each with a reliable, consistent appearance to build brand trust with their customer. But from shell to bottle to store, a consistent appearance isn’t so simple, as multiple variables, including chemical properties, harvesting and storage methods, and product differences, influence the final product.

These difficulties begin with the coconut. Since coconut water has a high pH, varying from 5 – 5.4, it is subject to rapid deterioration and fermentation once exposed to oxygen.1 Young coconut water, which is harvested one month earlier than mature coconuts, has a lower pH but higher phenolic content, as well as greater polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) enzyme activity. The increased phenol content raises antioxidant levels and health benefits,, but higher PPO and POD also raises the water’s susceptibility to oxidation1 Within minutes of first cracking, yellow, amber, brown, or even pink discoloration can bloom across the harvested water’s surface.

To keep the water from spoiling early, whole nuts are gently harvested and stored for up to six days till extraction inside the plant. But new challenges arise with processing. During cracking and harvesting, coconut water can become cloudy from the accidental shell and coconut meat debris, or by adding pulp for a pulped coconut beverage. Once harvested, coconut water must quickly be sterilized and bottled which can also cause changes in the coloring.  To prevent this, conventional thermal techniques, as well as cooling, freezing, or adding stabilizing juices such as pineapple, are quickly used to prevent further discoloration.2 In spite of these prevention methods, if the storage space is not properly temperature controlled, then discoloration can occur in storage and transportation to the store.

With all these different variables, the challenges of delivering a consistent coconut beverage can seem high. Consistency and reliability however, are the cornerstone of branding in a saturated market. It is also distinctly important to have a consistent color and haze for naturally harvested products to develop consumer trust.

Vegetable oils like soybean oil play a pivotal role in many products and applications, from snack food manufacturing to biodiesel fuel development, commercial frying, and personal hygiene goods production. Its color directly correlates to integrity and customer perception, demonstrating the need for accurate measurements throughout manufacturing processes.

The Importance of Color Measurement in Vegetable Oil

Quantifying color in vegetable oils is essential for many reasons:

• Quality: Color and clarity are primary quality and purity indicators in edible oils. Consistent measurement helps ensure adherence to implemented quality assurance methodologies and supports consumer confidence.
• Money savings: Refining processes can substantially impact oil color. Establishing that color falls within tolerances at each stage helps minimize waste and prevent downstream bleaching and blending issues that can be costlier to resolve.
• Conformance with industry standards: The American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) issues industry guidelines for oil analysis, including color measurement methods, suitable color models, and standards. Manufacturing contracts and specifications often require following the organization's frameworks.
• Regulatory compliance: Vegetable oil processing and manufacturing facilities must comply with regulations set forth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Both consider color to help ensure quality and consumer safety.

Using a spectrophotometer is the best way to measure the color of plastic pellets. These technological devices deliver reliable and accurate measurements that help you ensure the color remains consistent with each batch while adhering to industry standards.

Measure the Color of Plastic Pellets Using the Right Equipment

Plastic pellets vary in transparency and opacity, so you should use the appropriate measurement equipment and accessories for accurate results. Plastic pellets should be measured with a reflectance spectrophotometer. Opaque plastic pellets require only a sample cup, while transparent plastic pellets may require the use of an opaque cover. 

Keep Industry Standards in Mind

An effective color measurement system follows industry standards. As a part of quality and process control, it's important to measure the color of plastic pellets according to the testing standards set by ASTM. Plus, following the standards ensures you measure the pellets more accurately for consistent results.

Spectrophotometers can help you adhere to industry standards by offering a straightforward way to meet the outlined specifications.

Assess the Degree of Yellowness

Achieving clear and consistent colors is critical in plastic production. However, plastic resin can turn yellow when subjected to oxidation. Yellowness directly impacts the value and perceived quality of plastic products. To prevent the yellowish appearance, optical brighteners are used to make the plastics look more clear or white. 

Optical brighteners are also often used to enhance the appearance of recycled plastics. As a result, it's essential to assess the degree of yellowness in plastic resin to determine the appropriate concentration of optical brighteners needed to counteract the yellowing effect of plastics throughout the supply chain.

As the plastic production industry moves toward using recycled plastics, you'll need a robust spectrophotometer that can measure the color and fluorescence quality of virgin and recycled plastic resin and a combination of the two. By doing so, the spectrophotometer can help mitigate yellowness and ensure the optical brighteners are adjusted for at every stage of the production process. 

The use of plastic bottles in liquid packaging first became popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, plastic's cost-effectiveness, durability and recyclability have made it the go-to material for bottles among most major companies. Throughout the manufacturing of these bottles, it is vital that processors maintain accurate coloration. Any product entering the sales market should be uniform and consistent, down to the label and the packaging. This level of precision calls for specialized tools — and HunterLab provides them.

The Power of Spectrophotometers 

When you need to measure the color of plastic bottles, spectrophotometers offer the most objective and precise results. A spectrophotometer measures how light reflects off the bottle and uses those measurements to produce a numerical value in line with some of the most well-known color indices. 

Spectrophotometers make it easy for any brand to streamline its coloration practices and increase product consistency. Their use can translate to major benefits in:

• Brand identity: Plastic bottles can be manufactured in almost any color, so many brands produce their bottles using a unique pigment combination to set them apart. Coloring bottles consistently allows you to establish your own look that consumers will begin to recognize over time, even before they see the label.

• Consumer satisfaction: Changes in any part of your product or its packaging — including a significant color departure — can signal to loyal consumers that your product has changed in some way. By keeping your colors consistent, you can put consumers at ease and ensure they stay with your brand instead of choosing a competitor. 

Maintaining consistent color in opaque sheet plastic is crucial for manufacturers. Even slight color variations can impact brand identity and product quality. The right tools and techniques can achieve precise color control, ensuring every sheet matches your specifications. 

The best way to measure the color of opaque sheet plastic is by using a spectrophotometer. These solutions analyze light reflected from a sample and translate it into numerical data. This data represents value in a defined color space, allowing for objective and repeatable measurements.

Factors Affecting the Appearance of Opaque Plastics

When measuring color in opaque materials, we focus on reflectance. Reflectance is how light interacts with the plastic's surface and reflects on our eyes. Various aspects can influence how color appears on opaque materials, including:

• Opacity: This refers to the material's ability to block light. Opaque plastics do not allow light to pass through. While not directly related to color measurement, opacity can affect color perception.
• Surface texture: Glossy or matte finishes impact how light interacts with the plastic, influencing the perceived color. Standardizing surface texture provides a complete picture of the plastic's visual characteristics.
• Lighting conditions: The type of light source can affect how color appears. Standardizing lighting conditions during color measurement is crucial for consistent results.