Abstract: The present invention is concerned with Capsicum plants producing greater than about 0.4% zeaxanthin, by weight in the dried, ripe fruit pod flesh, which plants have been developed from commercially grown Capsicum cultivars by plant breeding techniques. Zeaxanthin is the dominant carotenoid in the dried ripe fruit pod flesh, when measured in non-esterified forms. Alternatively, these plants may be characterized as exhibiting a high pigmentation measured as an ASTA value and further characterized by the predominant presence of zeaxanthin. The zeaxanthin derived from these Capsicum plants can be used in applications that include nutritional supplements, foods, functional foods, cosmetics, animal feeds, aquaculture feeds, and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A food composition having the ability to change color when heated to a temperature above 160.degree., comprising (1) an edible substrate and (2) a color system of colored edible particles coated by a composition consisting essentially of (a) a distilled glyceride selected from the group consisting of distilled monoglycerides, distilled diglycerides and mixtures thereof and (b) titanium dioxide. In a preferred form, the coating also contains carbomethoxy cellulose.