Blue California has announced commerical availability of a line of highly purified lutein products.Last fall, the company was chosen by Biolut S.A. de C.V. of Mexico to be the exclusive U.S. distributor of its lutein (marigold extract) products. Now Blue California is ready to supply processors nationwide. According to Cecilia McCollum, vice president of sales and marketing, Blue California will offer lutein 45% powder, 20% oil and 5% beadlets, all on âfree’ lutein equivalent basis, with other lutein products planned for the near future.Lutein is a yellow carotenoid found in many plants and animal tissues. It is the primary carotenoid in the macula (the central area of the eye’s retina). Lutein’s special ability to increase macular pigment and shield the eye from damaging sunlight has been shown to decrease the risk and significantly slow the progress of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).All the Biolut lutein products have Kosher Parve certification, are guaranteed to be free of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides, and have been granted GRAS status.