The petals of summer pheasant’s-eye contain a carotenoid pigment called astaxanthin, which gives them their blood-red color. The pigment, extracted from the flowers of summer pheasant’s-eye or synthetically manufactured, may be added to the feed of fish, such as farmed salmon, resulting in an accumulation of the red pigment in the flesh of the fish. The reddish flesh color is palatable to consumers.
