The instrumental measurement of colour and lycopene in tomato and tomato products

The results of some instrumental measurements of colour and lycopene content in tomato 'samples' are presented. The instrument tested is a spectrophotometer/colorimeter of new conception based on diffuse reflectance measurements, proposed by Maselli Misure (mod.LC01); it supplies in a few seconds the lycopene concentration of the sample without (solvent) extraction of the pigment and without particular laboratory skilfulness and also. the traditional L, a, b, and a/b values. Several samples (15 fresh crushed tomatoes, 75 diced tomatoes and 140 tomato juices at different levels of concentration) were analyzed with this instrument and the results compared with lycopene content found with conventional HPLC analysis measured in the SSICA laboratory (Sandei et al., 2002); moreover, colour data coming from the spectro-colorimeter Hunterlab Labscan XE (colorimeter used as reference for the SSICA laboratory colour measurement) were compared with Maselli LC01 colour data.