Expanding the Feeding Options for Tenebrio molitor Traditionally, Tenebrio molitor (mealworms) are fed with wheat bran, rice bran, or corn. However, these insects are omnivorous and can thrive on a wide range of organic materials as long as they provide essential nutrients and have a suitable texture. When mealworm farming is scaled up into an industry, improving productivity and quality becomes crucial. One effective strategy is to reduce feeding costs by utilizing agricultural and industrial organic waste as feed sources. This includes crop straws, sawdust, cottonseed husks, bagasse, livestock manure, spent mushroom substrates, and byproducts from brewing industries. These materials can be transformed into high-quality mealworm feed through a special bio-fermentation process. By using a dedicated microbial agent, farmers can efficiently ferment these wastes, significantly enhancing their nutritional value and palatability. This not only saves time—by about 70%—but also reduces costs by nearly half. Plus, it's a safe and eco-friendly approach that turns waste into valuable resources. The bio-fermentation agent specifically designed for Tenebrio feed is a unique microbial blend developed through advanced cultivation, purification, and rejuvenation techniques. It contains beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and yeast, which work together to break down organic matter quickly. This agent is particularly effective in decomposing agricultural residues, livestock waste, and other organic byproducts, making them suitable for mealworm consumption. After fermentation, the resulting feed has a higher protein content and a more appealing aroma—often with a slight acidic scent—that improves the mealworms' feeding behavior. The overall nutritional profile becomes more balanced, making this feed an ideal choice for sustainable and cost-effective mealworm production. By adopting this method, farmers can not only cut down on feed expenses but also contribute to environmental protection by recycling waste materials.

Natural Food Colorants

what is natural food color?

Natural food coloring refers to pigments extracted or prepared from plants, animals, microorganisms or other natural sources for coloring food. These pigments are naturally produced due to biochemical reactions in living organisms and do not contain synthetic chemical components.
Natural food colors can be divided into the following categories according to their source:
1. Plant pigments: This is the most common source of natural food pigments, including pigments derived from a variety of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plant roots. For example, red beets can provide red pigments, carrots can provide orange pigments, turmeric can provide yellow pigments, and blueberries and purple potatoes can provide purple and blue pigments.
2. Animal pigments: These pigments are rare and usually come from the tissues or excretions of certain animals. For example, cochineal is a red pigment derived from the cochineal insects that live on certain cacti.
3. Microbial pigments: Some microorganisms, such as monascus, can produce specific pigments, such as monascus red pigments.
4. Mineral pigments: Although less used, certain inorganic minerals can also be used as natural food pigments, such as titanium dioxide (white) and iron oxide (red, yellow and black). However, due to possible toxicity issues with some mineral pigments, their use is often severely restricted or banned.
Natural food colors are generally considered safer and healthier than synthetic colors due to their nature. However, their color stability, heat resistance, light resistance, and interaction with other food ingredients may not be as good as synthetic pigments, so their application in the food industry sometimes presents some challenges. At the same time, the extraction and processing of natural pigments can also affect their cost and sustainability. Nevertheless, as consumer concerns about food safety and health increase, the demand for natural food coloring is growing.

Natural Food Colorants,Natural Food Pigments, natural food color

Xi'an Day Natural Inc. , https://herb.dayqc.com