METHOD FOR STABILIZING CAROTENOID PIGMENT, STABILIZED COMPOSITION OF CAROTENOID PIGMENT, AND FEED CONTAINING CAROTENOID PIGMENT STABILIZED THEREBY

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain a highly stable carotenoid pigment at a low cost by using an org. acid as a stabilizer for a carotenoid pigment. CONSTITUTION:At least one compd. selected from the group consisting of an org. acid having at least two carboxyl groups, glycine, ascorbic acid, and their salts is added in the presence of water to a carotenoid pigment or a substance contg. the pigment, and the pigment or the substance is then dried after the water treatment. Examples of the pigment are astaxanthin, a fatty acid ester of astaxanthin, and a complex of astaxanthin with a protein. Examples of a substance contg. the pigment are cells contg. the pigment and the product of alkali treatment of the cells. Thus stabilized carotenoid pigment is used as feed for fishes, chikens, etc.