Choices of blue food colourants are extremely limited, with only two options in the USA,
synthetic blue no. 1 and no. 2, and a third available in Europe, patent blue V. The food
industry is investing heavily in finding naturally derived replacements, with limited success to
date. Here, we review the complex and multifold mechanisms whereby blue pigmentation by
anthocyanins is achieved in nature. Our aim is to explain how structure determines the
functionality of anthocyanin pigments, particularly their colour and their stability. Where …

Choices of blue food colourants are extremely limited, with only two options in the USA,
synthetic blue no. 1 and no. 2, and a third available in Europe, patent blue V. The food
industry is investing heavily in finding naturally derived replacements, with limited success to
date. Here, we review the complex and multifold mechanisms whereby blue pigmentation by
anthocyanins is achieved in nature. Our aim is to explain how structure determines the
functionality of anthocyanin pigments, particularly their colour and their stability. Where …