Kemin Ensures Quality Using HunterLab Spectrophotometers

Protecting Brand Integrity Through Color Precision

Inconsistent ingredient color can cost manufacturers millions in rejected batches, regulatory setbacks, and lost consumer trust. For global ingredient leader Kemin Industries, ensuring color accuracy is not just an aesthetic concern—it's central to product quality and customer satisfaction. That’s why Kemin relies on HunterLab's advanced color spectrophotometers to protect the integrity of over 500 ingredient solutions across food, pet nutrition, and more.

Operating across more than 20 countries with 15 production facilities, Kemin faces the complex task of maintaining visual uniformity in highly diverse ingredient forms. From powders and granules to liquids and pellets, their customers expect one thing: consistency. And in today's competitive baking and snack markets, even slight color deviations can signal oxidation, processing errors, or shelf-life risks.

The Challenge: Detecting Oxidative Change Before It Affects Quality

Lipid-based oxidation is a persistent challenge in the baking and snack industries. As fats and oils degrade, they visibly darken ingredient color—even before other sensory qualities change. These early shifts can result in customer dissatisfaction or failed quality checks.

For Kemin, early detection of these subtle changes is essential to delivering on their promise of quality. They needed a solution that was:

• Sensitive enough to catch imperceptible color shifts
• Scalable across facilities and ingredient types
• Easy to operate with minimal variability between users

The Solution: ColorFlex L2 and Aeros from HunterLab

To meet these needs, Kemin deployed two of HunterLab’s most trusted solutions:

ColorFlex: Ideal for solid, liquid, powder, and pellet forms, the ColorFlex delivers high-precision color measurements using industry-standard color spaces like L*, a*, b*. This benchtop unit ensures each batch of ingredient maintains a visual signature customers expect.

Aeros: For non-uniform samples like blended powders or textured food ingredients, Aeros offers a non-contact, automated solution. Its rotating measurement ensures accuracy without the variability of manual sample prep.

Both instruments play a critical role in identifying oxidation at its earliest stages—well before visible discoloration is noticeable to the human eye. This enables Kemin to recommend antioxidant strategies, reformulate where needed, and ultimately help their customers preserve shelf life and brand perception.

Why It Matters: Real-World Impact for Food Manufacturers

HunterLab instruments help 93 of the world’s top 100 food manufacturers deliver:

• Brand Trust Through Consistency: Accurate color control ensures every product batch meets the visual expectations of your customer.
• Proactive Quality Assurance: Early detection of color shifts lets QA teams intervene before quality is compromised.
• Operational Efficiency: Automated, intuitive workflows reduce testing time and improve throughput.
• Audit-Ready Compliance: Standardized color reporting supports traceability and regulatory alignment.

Industry Tie-In: Addressing Baking and Snack Sector Pressures

According to Baking & Snack magazine, today’s producers face increasing pressure from supply chain fluctuations, reformulations, and rising consumer standards. Lipid oxidation remains one of the most difficult challenges to mitigate due to its subtle early signs.

With HunterLab technology in place, Kemin empowers its customers to detect and manage these risks. Whether helping a snack manufacturer adjust its process parameters or guiding a bakery on ingredient stability, Kemin and HunterLab work together to deliver consistent visual quality.

Conclusion: Building Quality into Every Ingredient

Kemin Industries exemplifies proactive, science-based quality management. With HunterLab’s industry-leading color spectrophotometers, they ensure their global ingredient portfolio meets the highest standards for appearance and stability.

Color is more than a visual trait—it's a signal of quality, safety, and consistency. And with HunterLab, Kemin has the tools to measure it with precision.

Want to learn how HunterLab can help you improve color control and reduce QA risk?

Request a demo today: https://www.hunterlab.com/en/contact/