Processed
Beta-Carotene
Beta-carotene is an orange carotenoid pigment found in carrots, palm oil, and algae, produced for food as crystalline material, suspensions in oil, and water-dispersible beadlets. It colours margarine, cheese analogues, beverages, and baked goods a warm yellow-orange and acts as a provitamin A source where fortification is intended. Colour is fat-soluble and sensitive to oxidation—formulators use antioxidants and opaque packaging. Dose carefully: too much turns products neon carrot-orange and can tint soft tissues with chronic extreme intake. Nature-identical synthetic and natural extracts both exist; label claims depend on source. Flavour contribution is negligible at colouring levels.
Also known as: E160a, Carotenes (E160a), Beta-carotene, β-Carotene, Beta-karoten
Track this ingredient
Explore further
Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
Nutrition and pairings
Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 0.98 g
- Saturated Fat 0.53 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0.21 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.19 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 20.7 mg
- Salt 0.05 g
- Total Carbohydrate 92.2 g
- Dietary Fibre 0 g
- Total Sugars 86 g
- Complex / starch 2 g
- Protein 2.1 g
- Water 4.96 g
- Energy 384 kcal
- Water 4.96 g
- Carbohydrates 92.2 g
- Sugars 86 g
- Monosaccharides 60.2 g
- Disaccharides 25.8 g
- Starch 2 g
- Amylose 0.5 g
- Amylopectin 1.5 g
- Digestible Starch 1.7 g
- Resistant Starch 0.2 g
- Protein 2.1 g
- Fat 0.98 g
- Saturated Fat 0.53 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0.21 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.19 g
- Vitamins 24.9 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.01 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.02 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.05 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.02 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 0.2 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 1.9 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin E 0.09 mg
- Vitamin K 0.5 µg
- Minerals 235 mg
- Major Minerals 229 mg
- Trace Minerals 6.3 mg
- Salt 0.05 g
- Sodium Chloride 0.05 g
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.01 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.02 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 0.1 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.05 · vitamin-b6: 0.02 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 0.2 · vitamin-b9-folate: 1.9 · vitamin-e: 0.09 · vitamin-k: 0.5 ·
Minerals
Sodium: 20.69 · Potassium: 154 · Calcium: 54 · Iron: 0.9 · Zinc: 0.4 · Iodine: 5 ·
Refined processed sweeteners and additives are energy-dense carbohydrate with little else.
History
Heinrich Wackenroder isolated carotene from carrot roots.
Structure elucidation and early commercial carotene concentrates supported vitamin A research.
Industrial synthesis made nature-identical beta-carotene available for margarine colouring.
Algal and palm-derived natural beta-carotene expanded clean-label colour options.