In addition to fulfilling their function of giving color, many natural pigments are known as interesting bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. These compounds have various applications. In recent times, in the food industry, there has been a spread of natural pigment application in many fields, such as pharmacology and toxicology, in the textile and printing industry and in the dairy and fish industry, with almost all major natural pigment classes being used in at least one sector of the food industry. In this scenario, the cost-effective benefits for the industry will be welcome, but they will be obscured by the benefits for people. Obtaining easily usable, non-toxic, eco-sustainable, cheap and biodegradable pigments represents the future in which researchers should invest.
Keywords: bacteria; food; health; nutraceuticals; pigments.