HunterLab ColorFlex Tomato Tomato Color Meter
| Origin | USA |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Origin Category | Imported |
| Model | ColorFlex Tomato |
| Pricing | Available Upon Request |
Overview
The HunterLab ColorFlex Tomato is a purpose-engineered optical measurement instrument designed exclusively for objective, repeatable color evaluation of tomato-based products in research, quality control, and regulatory compliance environments. Based on CIE-compliant 45°/0° geometry and dual-beam spectrophotometric technology, the instrument measures reflectance across the visible spectrum (400–700 nm) and calculates color coordinates in multiple standardized color spaces—including L*a*b*, L*C*h°, and the proprietary USDA Tomato Color Scale. Its optical architecture eliminates inter-instrument variability through factory calibration traceable to NIST-certified standards and the UC Davis Primary Tomato Reference Standards, ensuring metrological continuity with USDA grading protocols and international tomato processing specifications.
Key Features
- Optimized 45°/0° optical geometry compliant with ASTM D2244 and ISO 11664-4 for diffuse reflectance measurement of opaque, semi-viscous, and particulate tomato matrices (e.g., paste, purée, juice, ketchup).
- Integrated, pre-calibrated Tomato Color Scale firmware—preloaded with USDA-recommended hue angle thresholds and chroma boundaries aligned with the UC Davis Tomato Color Reference Set.
- Robust industrial housing with sealed membrane keypad and high-contrast backlit LCD display—designed for operation in humid, high-salinity, or temperature-variable production lab environments.
- Minimal footprint (15 cm bench space requirement) and integrated sample port geometry optimized for consistent presentation of viscous tomato samples in standard Petri dishes or glass cells.
- Optional BCR-certified Tomato Reference Tiles (BCR-811, BCR-812) available for on-site verification and routine performance qualification per ISO/IEC 17025 internal audit requirements.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The ColorFlex Tomato accommodates a defined range of tomato product physical forms: clarified juice (liquid), homogenized purée (semi-solid), concentrated paste (high-viscosity), and seasoned sauce (with low-level particulates). It meets the optical measurement criteria specified in USDA AMS Grade Standards for Tomatoes (FGIS-TM-13), EU Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 Annex IV (colorant documentation), and Codex Alimentarius Standard CXS 248-2005 for tomato products. Instrument validation supports GLP and GMP documentation workflows, including full audit trail generation when paired with HunterLab’s EasyMatch QC software (21 CFR Part 11 compliant configuration available).
Software & Data Management
Data acquisition, analysis, and reporting are managed via HunterLab’s EasyMatch QC v5.x platform—installed on Windows-based host PCs or embedded tablet interfaces. The software enables batch-wise statistical process control (SPC) charting of L*, a*, b*, and Tomato Hue Index; automatic pass/fail flagging against user-defined specification limits; and export of raw spectral data (.csv, .xml) for third-party statistical analysis (e.g., JMP, Minitab). All measurement events—including operator ID, timestamp, calibration status, and environmental metadata—are logged with immutable timestamps, satisfying FDA 21 CFR Part 11 electronic record integrity requirements when configured with digital signature and role-based access controls.
Applications
- Objective validation of USDA “Redness” (a* ≥ 15.0) and “Tomato Hue” (h° = 15–35°) thresholds during raw material intake inspection.
- Batch-to-batch consistency monitoring of thermal processing effects on lycopene degradation kinetics via longitudinal a*/b* ratio tracking.
- Formulation development support for shelf-stable tomato sauces, evaluating pigment stability under accelerated aging (40°C/75% RH).
- Supplier qualification audits requiring documented traceability to UC Davis primary standards and BCR reference materials.
- Regulatory submission packages for EU Novel Food dossiers or US FDA GRAS notifications involving color-modified tomato derivatives.
FAQ
Is the ColorFlex Tomato compliant with USDA AMS tomato grading procedures?
Yes—the instrument implements the official USDA Tomato Color Scale algorithm and is calibrated against the UC Davis Primary Standard Set, as referenced in FGIS-TM-13 Appendix A.
Can it measure tomato samples with suspended solids or pulp?
Yes—its 45°/0° geometry and large-area integrating sphere minimize scattering artifacts from particles ≤150 µm; optimal results require homogenization per AOAC 990.27 preparation guidelines.
Does it support IQ/OQ/PQ validation for regulated facilities?
Yes—HunterLab provides full validation documentation packages (including Installation Qualification templates, Operational Qualification protocols, and Performance Qualification test scripts) aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 and ASTM E2500.
What reference standards are required for daily verification?
Daily verification uses the included Enamel Steel Tile (certified L* = 92.5 ± 0.2, a* = −0.3 ± 0.1, b* = 0.1 ± 0.1); optional BCR-811/812 tiles enable cross-laboratory comparability per EU Joint Research Centre protocols.
Is spectral data export supported for multivariate modeling?
Yes—full 10-nm interval reflectance spectra (400–700 nm) are exportable in ASCII format for PLS regression, PCA, or lycopene quantification model development.
