Patent ID: 8491670

Claim:
A process for extracting at least anthocyanin pigments/dyes from corn kernels to produce a pigment/dye extract having improved stability against hydrolysis comprising: Adding total corn kernels with less than 10% by weight of the total corn kernels comprising broken kernels to an aqueous medium to form an aqueous-corn medium; The total corn kernels having in excess of 0.1 mg of anthocyanin pigment/dye per gram of corn kernel therein; exposing the aqueous corn medium at a temperature above 35° C.; separating solid corn kernels from the aqueous corn medium and forming an extract of anthocyanin in aqueous medium in which acids present in the aqueous medium consist essentially of acylated anthocyanin and other acids extracted from or formed by the corn kernels; and concentrating the extract to provide an anthocyanin composition of commercial use.