How to Measure the Quality of Spices: Maintaining Color Control with Spectrophotometers

In preparation for holiday cooking, I decided now was a good time to organize my spices, and I have to admit that my spice cabinet was a bit of a disaster. I quickly realized that the task was long overdue as I began to compare my duplicates (and yes, even triplicates) to decipher which to keep and which to throw out.

As I was sorting, I noticed a direct correlation between spice color and my perception of freshness and decided to investigate what color control really means to the quality of spices. The truth is that color control is a primary factor in quality analysis, which is used during the production of spices around the world. Process monitoring of color control is highly dependent on the use of spectrophotometers to ensure the quality and safety of spice products.

Spices and Color

Spices come from various sources and can differ dramatically in color. In fact, many use spices to enhance the color of dishes in addition to improving their flavor. That is why color control in the processing and development stages of spices is crucial to the overall product result. Typically, pigments in raw spice products increase with maturity, so color control monitoring can indicate when the base product is perfectly ripened and ready to process.

Spices also vary in color between their solid state and various degrees of crushing and/or grinding to create coarse or fine powders and even paste. Color measurement solutions must be able to account for variations in texture in order to accurately quantify color. Color control monitoring during these various stages of processing is essential for creating the desired aesthetic appeal and final product outcome

Image Source: Flickr’ user peddhapati

Color Control Regulations

Many spices rely on color control as a symbol of product quality. Color control monitoring with spectrophotometers plays an important role in meeting standards for product purity and safety. 

Contamination of spices can pose a significant problem, and many government agencies, such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have developed specific inspection requirements for safety compliance. In response to recent Salmonella contamination recalls, the ASTA has also created five key recommendation guidelines for the detection of pathogens in spices:

1. Minimize the risk of introduction of filth throughout the supply chain
2. Prevent environmental contamination, cross-contamination, and post-processing contamination during processing and storage
3. Use validated microbial reduction techniques
4. Perform post-treatment testing to verify a safe product
5. Test to verify a clean and wholesome manufacturing environment

Image Source: Flickr user sara marlowe

Using the ColorFlex L2 for Color Control

Although spices come in a variety of colors, textures, and consistencies, they often share enough similar attributes to be measured using one specific style of device. When measuring color control in spices, samples are usually opaque in nature and most accurately measured using reflectance methods and 45°a:0° annular illuminated optical geometry.

HunterLab has transformed our most popular spectrophotometer into an even more powerful solution with ColorFlex L2. We've designed this spectrophotometer for unparalleled accuracy, versatility, and value. This innovative device is ideal for fast, accurate spice color data capture, equipping users with the capability to meet government standards and quality expectations.

Our ColorFlex L2 delivers maximum user-friendliness to save your business time and boost efficiency. It integrates into existing workflows in just minutes with built-in setup and training wizards, eliminating lengthy training windows. Obtaining measurements you can trust takes mere seconds thanks to the high-precision camera with image preview to help eliminate the potential for errors.

This spectrophotometer functions as an independent color workstation with no external PC connection needed. Ample storage and our improved Essentials 2.0 software simplify the visualization of tristimulus and spectral data sets, making analysis equally straightforward. Connect accessories like a monitor, mouse, or keyboard if preferred.

ColorFlex L2 includes USB and Ethernet ports to further streamline workflows and support color consistency across facilities, batches, and production lines. Share readouts for faster decision-making, export data for printing, or push outcomes directly to Statistical Process Control (SPC) or Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).

This innovative color measurement solution is also engineered for reliable performance in your most demanding production environments and busy quality control labs. Its compact footprint, industrial-grade glass, and spill-proof case preserve valuable bench space and translate into minimal maintenance time. Additionally, ColorFlex L2 includes our world-class customer support and built-in advanced diagnostics to help ensure peak operation.

Trust the Leader in Spectrophotometers for Spice Color Control

As the originator of measuring color for appearance, HunterLab is a trusted name in the industry for scientific color quality control solutions and is utilized by major brands around the world. Contact HunterLab today, and let us put our more than 70 years of experience and expertise to the test to find the right solution for your color control needs.