Beta-karoten

Detailed information

What it is & how it is made

An orange colouring substance found in carrots, algae and some plants, which the body converts into vitamin A. The form used in food may be produced by plant extraction or by synthesis or fermentation.

Where it is used

Used for orange-yellow colour in margarine, butter, cheese, fruit juice, desserts and supplements.

Health note

It is safe at food-use levels. However, there are studies indicating that a high-dose supplement form may increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers; this warning concerns supplement doses, not the amount of colouring in food.

Halal assessment

The colouring substance itself may be plant-based or synthetic; however, so that it can be dispersed in powder or liquid form, a carrier or coating is frequently used that may be gelatine or otherwise animal-derived. Because the source of the carrier is not verified, it has been left as doubtful. Forms with a plant-based carrier, and certified forms, can be accepted as halal.