Organic Phycocyanin

Name: Bulk Organic Phycocyanin Powder | Spirulina Extract 20
SKU: OP002
Price: 65.00 USD
Availability: InStock

ORGANICWAY

4 years ago

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What is organic phycocyanin powder?

Organic phycocyanin is a blue phycobiliprotein pigment complex — the primary blue colorant in Spirulina platensis (blue-green algae). It consists of α and β subunits covalently bound to a linear tetrapyrrole chromophore called phycocyanobilin, which absorbs light at λmax 620 nm and emits bright blue fluorescence at λem 650 nm. This gives phycocyanin its vivid blue color and unique bioactive properties unmatched by any synthetic alternative.

Organic Way’s phycocyanin is extracted using a proprietary water-based process — no ethanol, hexane, or other synthetic solvents. The extract is then concentrated and spray-dried to produce a free-flowing blue powder.

Four Concentration Grades for Every Application:

Food Standard (≥20%, E620 ≥200): Cost-effective grade for beverages, confectionery, RTD drinks, and ice cream. Purity ratio A620/A280 ≥3.5.
High-Purity Food (≥35%, E620 ≥350): Premium grade for tablets, capsules, and high-end supplements. Superior color yield per gram.
Cosmetic Grade (≥15%, E620 ≥150): Stricter microbial limits (TPC <100 CFU/g) and lower heavy metal thresholds per ICP-MS. Suitable for face masks, serums, and haircare.
Research/Pharma Grade (≥50%, E620 ≥500): Highest purity for clinical research, fluorescence studies (λex 620nm / λem 650nm), and advanced nutraceutical formulations.

Why Phycocyanin is the Premium Clean-Label Blue:

ORAC ≥30,000 µmol TE/g — antioxidant capacity 10× higher than most common plant extracts
Natural anti-inflammatory activity — C-phycocyanin inhibits COX-2 and TNF-α pathways (peer-reviewed literature)
pH stability range: 4.0–8.0 — stable across most beverage and food matrices
Fluorescence properties —The only naturally occurring blue fluorescent pigment, used for biological labeling and scientific research.
Dual-functionality: simultaneously a colorant AND a bioactive ingredient — a claim no synthetic blue can make

Critical Compliance Note — Cyanotoxin and Heavy Metal Testing:

Spirulina platensis is a cyanobacterium capable of bioaccumulating heavy metals from its cultivation medium and producing hepatotoxic microcystins under stress conditions. Organic Way’s phycocyanin uses controlled, single-species closed cultivation systems to prevent contamination. Every batch is tested by ICP-MS for Pb, As, Cd, Hg (below Prop 65 / EFSA thresholds) and by ELISA + HPLC for microcystin-LR (<1 µg/g food grade; <0.5 µg/g cosmetic grade). COA with full testing data available on request.

For EU market entry: verify Novel Food status per EFSA Regulation 2015/2283. For US market: GRAS self-affirmed dossier or FDA GRAS No Objection Letter available on request.

Production & Quality Assurance:

Certified organic Spirulina platensis sourcing (USDA NOP / EU 834/2007)
Incoming testing: microcystin screen (ELISA), heavy metals (ICP-MS), moisture
Water-based extraction at controlled temperature (≤40°C) — no solvents used
Membrane filtration → spray drying
Lot-specific COA: phycocyanin content, E620 value, purity ratio, moisture, heavy metals, microbiology, microcystins
Third-party verification (SGS / Eurofins) available on request

Technical Specifications

Four-Grade Comparison

Parameter	Food Standard	High-Purity Food	Cosmetic	Research/Pharma	Test Method
Phycocyanin Content	≥20%	≥35%	≥15%	≥50%	A620/A652 ratio
Color Value (E620)	≥200	≥350	≥150	≥500	EU/FAO color value
Purity Ratio (A620/A280)	≥3.5	≥4.0	≥3.0	≥5.0	UV-Vis spectrophotometry
Solubility	≥95% cold/hot water	≥97% cold/hot water	≥98% water/glycerin	≥99% water	USP <467>
pH Stability Range	4.0–8.0 (blue)	4.0–8.0 (vivid blue)	3.5–9.0 (blue-green)	3.5–8.5	Buffer titration
Moisture	≤6.0%	≤5.0%	≤5.0%	≤4.0%	Karl Fischer
Ash	≤8.0%	≤6.0%	≤6.0%	≤4.0%	AOAC 942.05
Lead (Pb)	<0.1 ppm	<0.1 ppm	<0.05 ppm	<0.05 ppm	ICP-MS
Arsenic (As, total)	<0.1 ppm	<0.1 ppm	<0.05 ppm	<0.05 ppm	ICP-MS
Cadmium (Cd)	<0.1 ppm	<0.1 ppm	<0.05 ppm	<0.05 ppm	ICP-MS
Mercury (Hg)	<0.05 ppm	<0.05 ppm	<0.02 ppm	<0.02 ppm	ICP-MS
Microcystin-LR	<1 µg/g	<1 µg/g	<0.5 µg/g	<0.5 µg/g	ELISA + HPLC
ORAC Value	≥30,000 µmol TE/g	≥40,000 µmol TE/g	N/A	≥50,000 µmol TE/g	ORAC assay
Color Appearance	Blue powder	Deep blue powder	Blue-green powder	Brilliant blue powder	Visual
Particle Size	80–200 mesh	100–200 mesh	100–200 mesh	100–200 mesh	Sieve
Typical Application	Beverages, confectionery	Supplements, tablets	Cosmetics, skincare	Research, clinical	—

Microbiological Specifications

Parameter	Food Grade (Standard / High-Purity)	Cosmetic Grade	Test Method
Total Plate Count (TPC)	≤1,000 CFU/g / ≤500 CFU/g	≤100 CFU/g	ISO 4833
Yeast & Mold	≤100 CFU/g	≤50 CFU/g	ISO 21527
Coliform	≤10 CFU/g	Negative/g	ISO 4832
E. coli	Negative/1g	Negative/1g	ISO 16654
Salmonella	Negative/25g	Negative/25g	ISO 6579
Staphylococcus aureus	Negative/1g	Negative/1g	ISO 6888

Heavy Metals, Contaminants & Cyanotoxin Compliance

Parameter	Specification	Regulatory Standard
Lead (Pb)	<0.1 ppm (food) / <0.05 ppm (cosmetic)	Prop 65 / EFSA / Codex
Arsenic (As, total)	<0.1 ppm (food) / <0.05 ppm (cosmetic)	Prop 65
Cadmium (Cd)	<0.1 ppm	EU Regulation 2023/915
Mercury (Hg)	<0.05 ppm	Prop 65
Microcystin-LR	<1 µg/g (food) / <0.5 µg/g (cosmetic)	WHO guideline / EFSA
Residual Solvents	ND (water extraction only)	ICH Q3C / GC-MS
Pesticide Residues	ND (per EC 396/2005)	GC-MS/MS

Certifications

Certification	Issuing Body	Scope
USDA Organic	USDA NOP (via accredited certifier)	Production + processing
EU Organic	EU Reg. (EC) No 834/2007	Import + sale in EU
Organic	Japanese Agricultural Standards	Japan market
Non-GMO Project Verified	Non-GMO Project	Raw material + finished product
Kosher	OU / Star-K (lot-specific)	Processing facility
Halal	MUI / IFRC (lot-specific)	Processing facility
Vegan / Vegan Action	Vegan Society	100% plant-based
Gluten-Free	GFCO	Verified gluten-free
GRAS	Self-affirmed / FDA notification	US food use — confirm status on inquiry

⚠️ EU Novel Food Note: Under EFSA Regulation 2015/2283, phycocyanin as a Spirulina extract may require Novel Food authorization for commercial sale in the EU. Verify current authorization status before EU market entry.

Applications & Formulation Guidance

Application	Recommended Grade	Typical Addition	Notes
Functional Beverages / RTD	Food Standard (≥20%)	0.5–2.0%	Blue label appeal; pH 4.0–7.0 optimal
Protein Shakes / Sports Nutrition	Food Standard or High-Purity	1.0–3.0%	Clean-label natural blue; no FD&C artificial dye
Ice Cream / Frozen Desserts	Food Standard	0.3–1.0%	Blue swirl/ripple effect
Confectionery (gummies, marshmallows)	High-Purity Food	0.5–1.5%	Natural blue alternative to FD&C Blue No.1
Pasta / Noodles / Colored Grains	Food Standard	0.5–1.0%	Blue-purple spiral pasta
Tablet / Capsule Coating	High-Purity Food	1.0–3.0%	Premium natural appearance
Face Masks / Skincare	Cosmetic Grade	0.5–2.0%	Anti-inflammatory, soothing
Haircare (shampoo, conditioner)	Cosmetic Grade	0.2–1.0%	Blue-tinged natural ingredient claim
Pet Treats / Premium Pet Food	Food Standard	0.5–2.0%	Human-grade natural colorant for premium pet brands
Fluorescence Research / Biotech	Research/Pharma Grade	Per protocol	λex 620nm / λem 650nm
Sauces & Dressings	Food Standard	0.3–0.8%	Blue condiment (mix with yellow = green)

Stability Notes:

pH: Optimal blue color at pH 4.0–8.0. Below pH 3.5: turns greenish-blue. Above pH 9.5: degrades to yellow-green.
Temperature: Pasteurization (72°C, 15s) retains ~85% activity. UHT (>130°C) degrades 40–50%. For hot-fill beverages, consider post-addition or microencapsulation.
Light: Direct sunlight degrades ~30% in 2 hours. Use opaque or amber packaging.
Freeze-thaw: Stable through 5 cycles — suitable for frozen applications.
Preservatives: Vitamin C and citric acid enhance retention in acidic systems.

FAQs

Q1: What is phycocyanin, and how is it related to Spirulina?

A: Phycocyanin is a blue phycobiliprotein pigment complex found in cyanobacteria, most notably Spirulina platensis. It is the compound responsible for Spirulina’s characteristic blue color. The molecule consists of α and β protein subunits covalently bound to a linear tetrapyrrole chromophore (phycocyanobilin). This gives phycocyanin both its vivid blue color and its scientifically validated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Organic Way’s phycocyanin is extracted via a gentle water-based process — no synthetic solvents.

Q2: What concentration grades are available, and how do I choose the right one?

A: We offer four grades: Food Standard (≥20%, E620 ≥200) for beverages and confectionery; High-Purity Food (≥35%, E620 ≥350) for premium supplements and tablets; Cosmetic (≥15%, E620 ≥150) with stricter microbial and heavy metal limits; and Research/Pharma (≥50%, E620 ≥500) for clinical and biotech applications. For most food and beverage applications, the Food Standard grade provides the best cost-to-performance ratio. The High-Purity grade offers better color yield per gram for premium products.

Q3: Is your phycocyanin free from microcystins and other cyanotoxins?

A: Yes. Every batch is tested for microcystin-LR via ELISA (limit: <1 µg/g food grade, <0.5 µg/g cosmetic grade) and verified by HPLC. Spirulina platensis can produce hepatotoxic microcystins when stressed — our certified organic cultivation uses controlled, single-species closed systems to prevent contamination. COA with full microcystin testing data is available per batch. Request from sales@organic-way.com.

Q4: What is the heat and pH stability of organic phycocyanin?

A: Phycocyanin is most stable in pH 4.0–8.0 environments (vivid blue). Below pH 3.5 it turns greenish-blue; above pH 9.5 it degrades to yellow-green. For heat: pasteurization (72°C, 15s) retains ~85% activity. UHT processing (>130°C) retains only 50–60%. For hot-fill or baked goods, use post-addition or microencapsulated forms. Adding vitamin C or citric acid improves retention in acidic beverages. Direct sunlight degrades ~30% in 2 hours — opaque or amber packaging is required.

Q5: What certifications does organic phycocyanin carry, and is it GRAS approved?

A: Organic phycocyanin is certified USDA Organic, EU Organic, Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Vegan, Kosher (OU/Star-K), Halal (MUI/IFRC), and Gluten-Free (GFCO). For US market: GRAS self-affirmation is available; we can provide a GRAS dossier or FDA GRAS No Objection Letter upon request. For EU market: verify current Novel Food status under EFSA Regulation 2015/2283 before commercial sale.

Q6: What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) and lead time?

A: Standard MOQ is 25kg per grade. For volume pricing (bulk discounts), orders of 100kg or more are recommended. High-Purity and Research/Pharma grades have longer lead times due to additional processing. Production lead time: 10–14 business days from confirmed PO. Samples (100g per grade) available within 3–5 business days. Private-label packaging from 200kg. Contact sales@organic-way.com for volume pricing.

Q7: Can phycocyanin be used as a natural blue colorant to replace FD&C Blue No.1?

A: Yes. Phycocyanin is the primary natural blue pigment approved for use in food, beverages, cosmetics, and supplements. Unlike synthetic FD&C Blue No.1 (Allura Blue), phycocyanin carries a dual functionality: it provides vivid blue color AND scientifically validated antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties. This enables clean-label positioning that synthetic dyes cannot match. Key formulation considerations: pH must be maintained between 4.0–8.0 for optimal blue color; light and heat sensitivity require proper packaging and storage; color intensity is dose-dependent. For acidic beverages (pH <4.0), consider adding a buffering agent or use microencapsulated phycocyanin.

Packing

Format	Net Weight	MOQ	Notes
Aluminum foil pouch (inner PE)	1 kg	25 kg	Standard; moisture barrier
Aluminum foil pouch (inner PE)	5 kg	25 kg	Standard; moisture barrier
Kraft paper bag (inner PE liner)	25 kg	25 kg	Export packaging
White woven PP bag	25 kg	25 kg	Humid climates
Private-label retail	100g / 500g / 1kg	200 kg	Retail / Amazon
GMP bottle (pharmaceutical grade)	100g / 500g	100 kg	Research/Pharma grade

Storage Conditions: ≤25°C, RH ≤60%, sealed, away from direct sunlight and strong odors. Protect from heat and humidity. Shelf life: 24 months from manufacture date (sealed). After opening: reseal immediately; use within 3 months. Do not freeze in glass containers.