Purple corn extract
Purple corn extract suppliers and sourcing guide
Purple corn extract comes from deeply pigmented varieties of maize, Zea mays, grown mainly in the Peruvian Andes as maiz morado. The cobs and kernels are extracted with water or acidified water-ethanol, and the extract is purified, concentrated and spray dried or kept as a liquid. It is sold by anthocyanin content, mostly cyanidin-3-glucoside measured by HPLC or pH-differential, and is used as a color source and in drinks and supplements.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Zea mays purple corn · maiz morado · purple corn anthocyanins · Peruvian purple corn
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of purple corn extract
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Standardized powder
Spray-dried extract sold with a minimum anthocyanin percentage, usually on a maltodextrin carrier.
Liquid concentrate
Concentrated extract for beverages and color applications, sold by color strength or anthocyanin content.
Whole kernel or cob powder
Dried, milled purple corn without extraction, with lower anthocyanin content.
Organic
Extract from certified organic purple corn.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Anthocyanin assay
- Total anthocyanins by pH-differential (UV) or individual anthocyanins such as cyanidin-3-glucoside by HPLC; the method should be named because results differ.
- Color value
- Absorbance-based color strength at a stated pH, used when the extract serves as a color.
- Mycotoxins
- Aflatoxins and fumonisins, which are relevant to any maize-derived material.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella.
- Residual solvents and moisture
- Ethanol where used, plus loss on drying for powders.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store powders sealed in light-blocking, moisture-proof packaging in a cool, dry place; anthocyanins fade with heat, light, oxygen and higher pH, and the powder is hygroscopic. Liquid concentrates should be kept cool or chilled. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with the anthocyanin assay repeated at retest.
Lots and expiry dates
Anthocyanin content varies with corn variety, harvest and extraction, so record the assay and method for each lot and dose or color-match by actual assay. Track mycotoxin results by lot.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
A Health Canada multi-ingredient natural health product monograph lists Zea mays, with common names including purple corn, with the dried seed as the source part.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Zea mays (POL-NF-00791) lists the grain, seed (kernel) and seed oil as not novel in food.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Purple corn extract suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking purple corn extract suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell purple corn extract? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of purple corn extract can brands buy?
Common forms include standardized powder, liquid concentrate, whole kernel or cob powder and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for purple corn extract include?
Expect anthocyanin assay, color value, mycotoxins, heavy metals, microbiology and residual solvents and moisture, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should purple corn extract be stored?
Store powders sealed in light-blocking, moisture-proof packaging in a cool, dry place; anthocyanins fade with heat, light, oxygen and higher pH, and the powder is hygroscopic. Liquid concentrates should be kept cool or chilled. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with the anthocyanin assay repeated at retest.
What is the regulatory status of purple corn extract?
A Health Canada multi-ingredient natural health product monograph lists Zea mays, with common names including purple corn, with the dried seed as the source part. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Zea mays (POL-NF-00791) lists the grain, seed (kernel) and seed oil as not novel in food.
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