Comparing E160E - Beta-apo-8′-carotenal (c30) vs E160AI - Beta-carotene

Overview

E160E - Beta-apo-8′-carotenal (c30)

Beta-apo-8′-carotenal (c30), also listed as E160e or apocarotenal, is an orange to orange‑red color from the carotenoid family. It is added in tiny amounts to make foods look naturally orange, especially drinks, dairy, and bakery items. It is approved for use in both the United States and the European Union.

READ MORE >>

E160AI - Beta-carotene

Beta-carotene (E160a(i)) is a bright yellow–orange color used in many foods and drinks. It’s the same natural pigment that makes carrots orange, and the body can convert it into vitamin A. Regulators in the U.S. and EU allow its use as a food color when good manufacturing practices are followed.

READ MORE >>
Synonyms
E160e
Beta-apo-8′-carotenal (c30)
Apocarotenal
Beta-apo-8'-carotenal
C.I. Food orange 6
E number 160E
Trans-beta-apo-8'-carotenal
C30H40O
E160ai
Beta-carotene
Functions
colour
colour
Origins
Plant
Synthetic
Plant
Microbiological
Synthetic
Products

Found in 519 products

Found in 5,601 products

Search rank & volume
#308570 / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#2422K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×0.17
under-aware

×0.05
under-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 8 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

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

Read more about E160ERead more
Read more about E160AIRead more
Popular questions

  1. What is apocarotenal color?

    Apocarotenal (E160e) is an orange to red‑orange carotenoid food color that imparts stable orange hues to products like beverages, dairy, confectionery, and fats.

  2. How does apocarotenal affect human health?

    At permitted food-use levels it is considered safe by major regulators; as a carotenoid it may have modest provitamin A activity, and very high intakes may cause harmless yellowing of the skin (carotenodermia) but no serious effects are expected from normal dietary exposure.

  3. What is 3.apocarotenal made of?

    It is a single carotenoid molecule with the formula C30H40O, featuring a long conjugated polyene chain ending in an aldehyde group.

  4. What is apocarotenal made from?

    Commercially it is typically produced by chemical synthesis for consistency and purity, though it also occurs naturally in plants (e.g., citrus and leafy vegetables) and can be obtained from plant carotenoids.

  5. What is apocarotenal made of?

    Chemically it is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (C30H40O), forming a fat‑soluble orange pigment.

READ MORE ABOUT E160EREAD MORE >>

  1. Does beta carotene make you tan?

    High intakes can give the skin a yellow‑orange tint (carotenodermia), especially on the palms and soles; it’s not a melanin “tan” and fades when intake is reduced.

  2. Is beta carotene bad for you?

    At the amounts used as a food color and from normal diets, it’s considered safe; however, high‑dose supplements have been linked to increased lung cancer risk in smokers and asbestos‑exposed people and can cause temporary skin yellowing.

  3. What foods have beta carotene?

    Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, butternut squash, spinach, kale, collards, apricots, mango, cantaloupe, and red/orange peppers are rich sources; it’s also added as color (E160a) to some foods.

  4. Is beta carotene vitamin a?

    No—it's a provitamin A carotenoid that your body converts to vitamin A (retinol) as needed.

  5. How much beta carotene per day?

    There’s no specific daily requirement for beta‑carotene; most people can meet vitamin A needs via carotenoid‑rich foods, and high‑dose beta‑carotene supplements (around 20 mg/day or more) are not recommended for smokers.

READ MORE ABOUT E160AIREAD MORE >>