Best Practices to Measure the Color of Candy

Color is one of the first things that comes to mind when thinking of candy, as this sweet comes in a rainbow of vibrant hues. The importance of appearance in candy means that those who manufacture it should follow industry best practices to ensure an enjoyable consumer experience.

Consider the Importance of Color

Before you start measuring, note why color matters in candy. Consumers judge food based on appearance, and color sets expectations for quality and taste. Beyond those expectations, color influences whether customers buy a product. They repeatedly turn to brands that offer color consistency as a reliable indicator of quality.

Account for Color Measurement Challenges

Candy presents several unique color measurement challenges, as it varies in size and shape and may include multiple colors in a single piece. Coating and finishing techniques vary as well, from a hard, shiny shell to a sugary outer layer, influencing the candy's appearance. 

Candy also tends to be messy and sticky, which means measuring it requires a device that's easy to clean and captures data without touching the candy surface. 

Abide by Industry Standards and Best Practices

The candy industry has several industry-standard color scales. CIELAB is one of the most common color spaces used in this industry to measure color data. Adhering to industry-standard scales helps ensure your products meet widely accepted tolerances.

Use a Color Spectrophotometer

A color spectrophotometer collects data related to our visual experience of color, giving the most accurate idea of whether candy conforms to industry standards. Other methods, like visual analysis, can't compare to a spectrophotometer because they rely on subjective perceptions and external conditions such as lighting. 

Using a spectrophotometer, you can measure color to a specific set of values, enabling you to maintain quality across numerous batches.

Elevate Your Quality With Color Spectrophotometers From HunterLab

We have produced precision solutions for the color measurement industry for over 70 years. Our expertise enables us to create technologies that resolve unique challenges for candy manufacturers. The Aeros spectrophotometer is the ideal solution for quantifying candy color. It offers no-contact measurements to reduce cleanup and captures variations in color data. This equipment is also engineered for accurate measurements on nonuniform samples, making it perfect for products like candy that differ in size, shape, or texture.

Explore Aeros in more detail, or contact us online for a quote.