Back to catalogSafety
E160aColorantLow concern
Beta-Carotene
In plain words
The short version
A natural orange pigment from carrots and algae that also acts as a vitamin A precursor.
Why it's green
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 required. 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).
The detail
Educational information only. Not medical or dietary advice.