E160a

Beta-Carotene (Carotene)

Natural Orange Colouring & Vitamin A Precursor

What is E160a (Beta-Carotene)?

E160a, known as Beta-Carotene or simply Carotene, is a natural orange-yellow food colouring and provitamin A.

How it's obtained:

• Natural extraction – from carrots, palm oil, or algae
• Synthetic production – chemically synthesized (molecularly identical to natural)
• Fermentation – some beta-carotene is produced by genetically modified bacteria or fungi

Why it's used:

• Natural orange-yellow colour – appealing appearance in foods
• Vitamin A fortification – adds nutritional value
• Antioxidant properties – protects food from oxidation
• Safe and natural – consumer preference over synthetic dyes
• Stable – doesn't degrade easily in processing

Where is E160a Found?

E160a is used in many foods for both colour and nutrition:

Very Common:

• Margarine and butter spreads – creates golden-yellow colour (natural butter colour)
• Cheese – especially cheddar and processed cheese (mimics natural colour)
• Orange juice – enhances orange colour and adds vitamin A
• Breakfast cereals – fortification for vitamin A
• Soft drinks – orange and tropical flavoured drinks
• Cakes and biscuits – sponge cakes, custard creams
• Ice cream and desserts – orange, mango, tropical flavours
• Soup mixes – instant soups with orange/yellow vegetables

Nutritional Supplements:

• Multivitamins – as a source of vitamin A
• Beta-carotene supplements – for vision and skin health
• Infant formula – mimics vitamin A in breast milk

Naturally High in Beta-Carotene (No E160a Added):

These foods naturally contain high levels of beta-carotene:

• Carrots (8,300 mcg per 100g) – highest source
• Sweet potatoes (8,500 mcg per 100g)
• Pumpkin (3,100 mcg per 100g)
• Butternut squash (4,200 mcg per 100g)
• Mangoes (640 mcg per 100g)
• Spinach (5,600 mcg per 100g)
• Kale (9,200 mcg per 100g)

Health Benefits of E160a

Unlike most E-numbers, beta-carotene is actively beneficial for health:

1. Converts to Vitamin A (Essential Nutrient)

Your body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A (retinol) as needed:

• Vision – essential for night vision and preventing night blindness
• Immune function – supports white blood cells and antibody production
• Skin health – maintains healthy skin and mucous membranes
• Cell growth – necessary for normal cell division and growth
• Reproduction – important for fertility and fetal development

UK recommended daily intake of vitamin A:

• Men: 700 mcg
• Women: 600 mcg
• Children: 400-600 mcg (depending on age)

2. Powerful Antioxidant

Beta-carotene neutralizes free radicals that damage cells:

• May reduce risk of chronic diseases (heart disease, cancer)
• Protects eyes from age-related macular degeneration
• Supports skin health and may reduce UV damage
• May slow cognitive decline

3. Eye Health

Beta-carotene is particularly important for vision:

• Prevents night blindness – vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide
• Reduces age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – studies show beta-carotene may slow AMD progression
• Supports overall eye function

4. Immune Support

• Vitamin A (from beta-carotene) supports immune cells
• Helps maintain mucous barriers (first line of defense against infection)
• May reduce severity and duration of infections

5. Skin Health

• Supports healthy skin cell production
• May reduce acne (vitamin A derivatives are used in acne treatments)
• Protects against UV damage (though not a replacement for sunscreen)
• May give skin a slight healthy glow (orange tint at very high intakes)

Is E160a Safe?

Yes, E160a is completely safe – in fact, it's beneficial for most people.

✅ Safety Profile:

• No toxicity – beta-carotene is non-toxic at normal consumption levels
• No cancer risk – in fact, may reduce cancer risk
• No allergic reactions – not a known allergen
• Safe for children, pregnant women, elderly – recommended for everyone
• Self-regulating – your body only converts as much to vitamin A as it needs

Side Effects (Only at Very High Doses)

Beta-carotene is very safe, but very high supplemental doses (>25,000 IU daily for months) can cause:

1. Carotenodermia (Orange Skin)

• Harmless condition where skin turns slightly orange/yellow
• Caused by eating massive amounts of carrots or taking high-dose supplements
• Reverses when you stop consuming so much beta-carotene
• Not harmful – just cosmetic

2. Smokers: Increased Lung Cancer Risk (Supplements Only)

Two large studies found high-dose beta-carotene supplements (20-30mg daily) increased lung cancer risk in smokers:

• ATBC Study (1994) – 20mg supplements increased lung cancer by 18% in smokers
• CARET Study (1996) – 30mg supplements increased lung cancer by 28% in smokers/asbestos workers

Beta-Carotene in Food vs. Supplements

E160a in food products is safe for smokers because:

• Food contains much lower doses (0.1-1mg per serving) compared to risky supplements (20-30mg)
• The smoker studies used isolated high-dose synthetic supplements, not food additives
• No studies have found increased lung cancer risk from beta-carotene in food

Regulatory Status

E160a is approved worldwide with no restrictions:

United Kingdom & European Union

• Approved for unlimited use in nearly all foods
• No Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) limit – considered so safe no restriction is needed
• Labelling: Must be listed as "E160a", "Beta-Carotene", or "Carotene"
• EFSA verdict: No safety concerns at any consumption level

United States

• Approved by the FDA as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS)
• No usage restrictions
• Widely used in fortified foods

Australia, New Zealand, Canada

• Approved with no restrictions
• Considered beneficial for public health

Natural vs. Synthetic Beta-Carotene

E160a can be natural (extracted) or synthetic (chemically produced). Are they different?

Chemical Structure:

• Natural beta-carotene (from carrots): Same chemical formula
• Synthetic beta-carotene: Identical chemical formula
• Result: Your body processes them identically

Slight Differences:

• Natural sources often contain a mix of carotenoids (alpha-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin) alongside beta-carotene
• Synthetic beta-carotene is pure beta-carotene (all-trans form)
• Some argue the mix in natural sources is more beneficial (more research needed)

Bottom line: Both natural and synthetic beta-carotene are safe. Eating whole foods (carrots, sweet potatoes) gives you additional nutrients, but E160a is still beneficial.

Why Margarine is Yellow (And Cheese is Orange)

E160a is the reason margarine and cheese have their characteristic colours:

Margarine:

• Natural butter is yellow because cows eat grass containing carotenoids
• Margarine (from vegetable oils) is naturally white/pale
• E160a is added to make margarine look like butter
• Also adds vitamin A (butter naturally contains vitamin A)

Cheddar Cheese:

• Traditional cheddar is orange due to annatto (E160b) or beta-carotene (E160a)
• Cheese made from grass-fed cow milk is naturally pale yellow (from carotenoids in grass)
• Orange colour added to match traditional appearance and consumer expectation

Beta-Carotene for Vegetarians and Vegans

Beta-carotene is particularly important for those who don't eat animal products:

Why It Matters:

• Preformed vitamin A (retinol) is only found in animal products (liver, eggs, dairy)
• Beta-carotene is the plant-based source of vitamin A
• Vegetarians and vegans rely on beta-carotene for vitamin A

Conversion Rate:

• Your body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A at a ratio of about 12:1
• You need 12 mcg of beta-carotene to get 1 mcg of vitamin A
• This means vegetarians/vegans need to eat more orange and dark green vegetables

The Bottom Line

E160a (Beta-Carotene) is one of the safest and most beneficial food additives.

Key takeaways:

• ✅ Natural compound – found in carrots, sweet potatoes, and all orange vegetables
• ✅ Converts to vitamin A – essential for vision, immune function, skin health
• ✅ Powerful antioxidant – protects cells from damage
• ✅ No toxicity – body self-regulates conversion to vitamin A
• ✅ No ADI limit – regulators say it's safe at any level
• ✅ Safe for everyone – children, pregnant women, elderly
• ✅ May reduce disease risk – cancer, heart disease, eye disease
• ⚠️ Smokers: avoid high-dose supplements (>15mg) – but food sources are safe
• ✅ Used in margarine, cheese, juice – extremely common

Our recommendation: E160a is not only safe – it's good for you. Don't avoid products containing beta-carotene. In fact, eating more beta-carotene-rich foods (carrots, sweet potatoes) is beneficial for nearly everyone.

Last updated: February 2026