The use of natural colourings in food products presents nutritional advantages, and certain pigments are associated with functional properties, e.g. antioxidant effects. This can be very advantageous in food products with high fat contents like mayonnaises. The aim of this work was to study the effect of adding natural pigments, lutein and phycocyanin, to the water and oil phases, respectively, of oil-in-water pea protein-stabilized emulsions, beyond the desirable and expected development of a green colour. The emulsions were prepared with 3% (w/w) pea protein, 65% (w/w) vegetable oil, and varying concentrations of lutein and phycocyanin (0.25–1.25% w/w). Emulsions containing both pigments, in different proportions (total pigment concentration of 0.5%, w/w) were also prepared. Oscillatory and steady-state measurements, as well as droplet size distribution and textural profile tests, were performed. The addition of lutein to the disperse oil phase promoted a decrease of the emulsions’ rheological and textural parameters, while the addition of phycocyanin to the water (continuous) phase resulted in an increase of these properties. When using combinations of both pigments, an increase of the rheological and textural parameters with phycocyanin proportion was apparent, and a synergetic effect due to the presence of both pigments was found.

1. A 3 x 2 factorial experiment was conducted with three diets and two lines of broiler breeder females to evaluate the contribution of low-energy rations for improving the welfare of feed-restricted birds during rearing. Experimental diets were fed from 6 to 16 weeks of age and were created by diluting a conventional grower (Control) ration containing 11.0 MJ ME/kg with 200 (8.8 MJ ME/kg) or 400 (6.6 MJ ME/kg) g oat hulls/kg using Optimoist to facilitate the pelleting process. Welfare was assessed by changes in behaviour and physiological variables at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. Birds were fed restricted quantities of feed to meet recommended body weight targets. 2. There was a decrease in the proportion of observations of drinking and an increase of preening in birds fed on the two experimental diets compared with the control. There was a linear decrease in litter moisture and the number of litter changes with increasing diet dilution, and water intake at 12 weeks was higher in the control than in the two experimental diets. There were no changes in physiological indexes of welfare (heterophil-lymphocyte ratio, plasma corticosterone and antibody responses) associated with the dietary treatments. 3. There were no important differences in the growth, behaviour or physiological responses to dietary treatment between the two lines of broiler breeders. Changes with age were similar to those reported in other experiments. 4. It was concluded that low-energy pelleted diets would improve litter conditions but not improve indexes of welfare in feed-restricted broiler breeders.