Carotenes (E160a)
- Food Fine
What is Carotenes (E160a)?
Carotenes (E160a) are the natural orange pigments in carrots, used to colour foods such as margarine, cheese and drinks, and your body can turn them into vitamin A. The small amounts used for colour are not a concern. The lung-cancer risk seen with high-dose beta-carotene pills in heavy smokers does not apply to food colouring.
What is Yasno’s verdict on Carotenes?
Yasno’s verdict on Carotenes: Fine. No meaningful concern at normal amounts.
Is Carotenes allowed in the EU?
EU status of Carotenes: Permitted as a food additive. Conditions and limits come from the regulation cited below. Yasno summarises them and does not replace the legal text.
| Where | EU | US |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Permitted as a food additive | Not recorded |
What else is it called?
- Carotenoid
- Carotenoids
- DTXSID601019103
- Carotenoids (NOS)
- Beta-carotene
Sources
- EU Food Additives Register — POL-FAD-IMPORT-3010, European Commission (DG SANTE), 2013
Always check the physical label. Yasno describes evidence and regulatory status. It never says a product is free of an allergen or safe for you, and it is not medical advice.
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