Beta-Carotene
The short version
A natural orange pigment from carrots and algae that also acts as a vitamin A precursor.
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
No ADI has been set: EFSA (2012) concluded that no ADI could be established, and in 2019 JECFA withdrew its earlier group ADIs of 0–5 mg/kg body weight without setting a new one. EFSA concluded that use as a food colour is not of safety concern provided intake from food-additive and food-supplement use is no more than the amount likely eaten from foods in which it occurs naturally (5–10 mg/day). Considered safe at normal dietary levels. High-dose supplementation has been linked to increased lung cancer risk in heavy smokers in two large clinical trials (ATBC and CARET).
Sources
- EFSA — Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of mixed carotenes (E 160a(i)) and beta-carotene (E 160a(ii)) as a food additive (2012) — European Food Safety Authority (EFSA Journal), 2012. No ADI could be established; use as colour not of concern within 5–10 mg/day dietary-equivalent intake
- WHO JECFA database — beta-Carotene (synthetic) (INS 160a(i)): group ADI withdrawn (87th meeting, 2019) — Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (WHO), 2019. JECFA withdrew the 0–5 mg/kg bw group ADI and could not set a new one
- EFSA — Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for preformed vitamin A and β-carotene (2024) — European Food Safety Authority (EFSA Journal), 2024. Lung cancer risk from supplemental β-carotene; smokers should avoid supplements
- US eCFR — 21 CFR 73.95 β-Carotene (color additive), current as of 13 Oct 2026 — US Food and Drug Administration / Office of the Federal Register, 2026. US permits β-carotene for coloring foods generally at GMP levels
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.