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Beta-Carotene (E160a) — What You Need to Know

Safe(9/10)Natural

The score is an eNumbers.org editorial summary, not an official agency rating or medical advice. Start with the regulatory status and primary sources below.

What Is Beta-Carotene?

Beta-carotene is a natural orange pigment found abundantly in carrots, sweet potatoes, and many other fruits and vegetables. It is a provitamin A carotenoid, meaning the body converts it into vitamin A as needed. As a food additive, it is used both as a coloring agent and a nutritional supplement. It is one of the most widely consumed carotenoids in the world.

What Is It Used For?

Colors margarine, butter, cheese, and beverages orange to yellow. Also used as a nutrient supplement. Found in plant-based products that mimic dairy foods.

Function: Natural orange-yellow food coloring and provitamin A
3 mg
Dataset exposure estimate

Exposure figures are population-level references, not personal limits. Actual intake varies by diet, product and jurisdiction.

Regulatory & Editorial Context

📊
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
No ADI established — considered safe without a defined limit
🏛️
Regulatory Status
🇺🇸 USA (FDA): GRAS
🇪🇺 EU (EFSA): Authorized
⚠️ Key Concerns

High-dose supplemental beta-carotene (not from food) has been associated with increased lung cancer risk in smokers in clinical trials (ATBC and CARET studies). However, beta-carotene consumed as a food additive at normal levels poses no such risk. The FDA and EFSA both consider it safe for use in food.

Editorial context score

eNumbers.org currently assigns Beta-Carotene an editorial context label of Safe with a score of 9/10. This is 3.2 points above the database average for colorings (5.8/10). Dataset reference year: 2012.

This score is not issued by EFSA, FDA, WHO or another regulator.

Commonly Found In

MargarineButterCheeseJuicesDietary supplements
Example brands:
Country CrockI Can't Believe It's Not Butter

Always check the label for E160a or 'Beta-Carotene'

▶Chemical Information
Formula: C40H56
Molecular Weight: 536.87 g/mol
CAS Number: 7235-40-7
INS Number: 160a
Also known as: E160a, INS 160a, Provitamin A, Carotene

Primary Sources

Source review: 2026-08-08

Official references relevant to this page. Check the agency record for current permitted uses, limits and jurisdiction-specific wording.

How eNumbers.org uses sources →

Frequently Asked Questions about Beta-Carotene

Current dataset status: FDA — GRAS; EFSA/EU — Authorized. Reported concerns: High-dose supplemental beta-carotene (not from food) has been associated with increased lung cancer risk in smokers in clinical trials (ATBC and CARET studies). However, beta-carotene consumed as a food additive at normal levels poses no such risk. The FDA and EFSA both consider it safe for use in food. Regulatory status and individual risk are not the same; check the primary sources and permitted conditions of use.

Quick Facts

E-Number
E160a
INS Number
160a
Category
Colorings
Origin
Natural
FDA Status
GRAS
EFSA Status
Authorized
ADI
No limit
Dataset Review
2012
Ingredient-level Dietary Notes
Vegan: ✅ YesHalal: ✅ YesKosher: ✅ YesGluten-Free: ✅ Yes

Carriers, processing aids and product certification can change suitability. Verify the final label and certifier.

Quick Links

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for health-related decisions.

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Other colorings in the same family

Annatto (E160b)Curcumin (E100)