Chr. Hansen, Milwaukee, has been granted patent rights to a unique form of natural colors. This opens the door to new markets, especially in beverages and confectionery where bright, stable colors are required. Chr. Hansen manufactures this new form of nature-derived colorants using the company's "cap" technology, which is based on capping fine particle size pigments in a matrix of food ingredients. In this case, the use of specific types of pectin improves the dispersibility of the pigments in water-based systems, as well as the coloring power, and allows for Kosher certification.