Xanthophyll compositions and methods of use

A process for creating a final product with a non-esterified carotenoid concentration of greater than 10%, the process comprising:

• a) alkaline saponification of a natural carotenoid-containing oleoresin, wherein the saponification occurs in the presence of a metal hydroxide, with intimate mixing, and occurs at a temperature between about 110° C. to about 180° C., resulting in a composition comprising non-esterified carotenoids and oleoresin components from the original natural carotenoid-containing oleoresin,
• b) atomization of the resulting composition comprising non-esterified carotenoids and oleoresin components from the original natural carotenoid-containing oleoresin to produce an atomized composition, and
• c) isomerization of the non-esterified carotenoids in the atomized composition to produce a final product comprising the non-esterified carotenoids and oleoresin components from the original natural carotenoid-containing oleoresin, wherein the atomized composition is heated such that greater than 80% of the non-esterified carotenoids present in the final product are in the all-trans isomer configuration, and the non-esterified carotenoid concentration of the final product is greater than 10%.