Comparing E160A - carotene vs E162 - Beetroot red

Overview

E160A - carotene

Carotene (E160A) is an orange plant pigment used to color foods. It most often refers to beta-carotene, a provitamin A compound that the body can convert into vitamin A. In foods, it brings warm yellow-to-orange shades and helps keep color consistent from batch to batch.

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E162 - Beetroot red

Beetroot red (E162) is a natural red-to-pink food color made from red beets. Its main coloring pigment is betanin, which gives foods a vivid berry-like hue without using synthetic dyes. It is widely used in drinks, dairy, and confections, especially where a “natural color” label is preferred.

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Synonyms
E160a
carotene
E162
Beetroot red
betanin
Functions
colour
colour
Origins
Plant
Microbiological
Synthetic
Plant
Products

Found in 5,839 products

Found in 156 products

Search rank & volume
#1746.4K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#318500 / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×0.16
under-aware

×0.48
under-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

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Popular questions

  1. What is beta carotene?

    Beta‑carotene (E160a) is an orange plant pigment used as a food color and provitamin A; humans can convert it into vitamin A as needed.

  2. Does beta carotene make you tan?

    High intakes can cause a yellow‑orange skin tint (carotenodermia), especially on palms and soles, but this is not a true melanin tan and offers no UV protection.

  3. Is beta carotene bad for you?

    It’s generally safe at normal dietary and additive levels; very high supplemental doses can discolor skin and have been linked to increased lung cancer risk in smokers and asbestos‑exposed people.

  4. What foods have beta carotene?

    Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin/squash, dark leafy greens (spinach, kale), cantaloupe, apricots, and mangoes are rich sources; it’s also present in red palm oil and used to color or fortify various foods.

  5. Is beta carotene vitamin a?

    No—it's a provitamin A that the body converts to vitamin A (retinol); conversion varies by individual and diet (e.g., fat intake).

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  1. Does beetroot make your poop red?

    Yes—beetroot contains betanin (E162), a natural red pigment that can pass through the gut and temporarily turn stool red or pink; it's harmless.

  2. Does beetroot make you poop red?

    Yes, the betanin (E162) in beetroot can color stools red for a short time after eating it, which can be mistaken for blood.

  3. Can beetroot make poop red?

    Yes; the beet pigment betanin (E162) often survives digestion and can make poop appear red, especially with larger amounts or fast transit.

  4. What is beetroot red soup?

    A beet-based soup (often called borscht) whose vivid color comes from beet pigments like betanin (E162); it’s a dish, not an additive.

  5. Can beetroot cause red urine?

    Yes—some people excrete beetroot’s betanin (E162) in urine, causing pink or red discoloration (beeturia); it’s temporary and harmless.

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