E160a or Carotenes is a chemical compound, an ingredient included in the list of European food additives as  dye.

It is obtained, with a synthetic and therefore a chemical process, mainly from the carrot.

It is specified as follows:

• E160a (i): mixture of carotenes
• E160a (ii): beta carotene obtained by fermentation of the fungus Blakeslea trispora, palm fruit oil, carrots and algae.

Carotenes are natural pigments that give fruit and vegetables vibrant colours. They are found in a wide variety of plants, but are most commonly associated with carrots, from which they take their name.

There are two main types of carotenes used in food colouring:

• Beta-carotene. It is the most common carotene and is found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach. In the body it is converted to vitamin A, which is essential for maintaining healthy skin, vision and immune function.
• Alpha-carotene. This is less common and is found in foods such as pumpkins and carrots. Important for maintaining eye health.

The extraction process takes place in different stages:

• Crushing. Carrots or other brightly coloured vegetables are crushed and subjected to fine grinding.
• Extraction. The pulp is mixed with a solvent, often ethanol or hexane, which helps dissolve the carotenes and separate them from the rest of the plant material. The mixture is heated to improve the process.
• Separation. The mixture is filtered or centrifuged to separate the liquid containing the carotenes and the solvent from the solid plant material.
• Solvent removal. The solvent is removed from the liquid by an evaporation process. This produces a concentrated form of carotenes.
• Purification. The carotenes may undergo further purification processes to remove the remaining impurities. This may involve further cycles of solvent extraction and other techniques such as crystallisation or chromatography.
• Formulation. Finally, the purified carotenes are mixed with other ingredients to create the final dye product. This may include elements such as water, oils or other additives, depending on the specific product and its intended use.

E160a is produced in different forms:

• Liquid. Carotene is often used in liquid products such as drinks or in products where the liquid form is easier to mix, such as some types of candy or baked goods. The liquid is typically bright orange in colour.
• Powder. Carotene powder is used in products where a dry ingredient is easier to incorporate, such as dry mixes. The powder is typically bright orange in colour and can be mixed with other ingredients to create a variety of shades.
• Oil. Carotenes are mixed with oils to create a product that can be used in fat-based foods. The oil is typically bright orange in colour.
• Beadlet. In some cases, carotenes take the form of small beads. This can help protect carotenes from degradation and makes them easier to mix into certain types of products. Beads are typically bright orange in colour.

Safety

In the European Union, E160a is approved for use in a wide variety of foods, including beverages, candies, baked goods and more. It is considered safe for consumption, although excessive consumption of beta-carotene has been linked to a condition called carotenemia, in which the skin turns a yellow-orange colour. This condition is innocuous and disappears once beta-carotene consumption is reduced.

Studies

A first opinion of the Panel in 2012 had concluded that based on the presently available dataset, no ADIs for mixed carotenes and β-carotene can be established and that the use of (synthetic) β-carotene and mixed β-carotenes obtained from palm fruit oil, carrots and algae as food colour is not of safety concern, provided the intake from this use as a food additive and as food supplement, is not more than the amount likely to be ingested from the regular consumption of the foods in which they occur naturally (5–10 mg/day). This would ascertain that the exposure to β-carotene from these uses would remain below 15 mg/day, the level of supplemental intake of β-carotene for which epidemiological studies did not reveal any increased cancer risk. Furthermore, the Panel could not conclude on the safety in use of mixed carotenes [E 160a (i)] (1).

 In 2016, following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety of the extension of use of the food colour synthetic β-carotene [E 160a(ii)] when added to dietary food for special medical purposes (FSMP) intended for young children aged 1–3 years. Currently, the use of colours in foodstuffs is prohibited in any food for infants and young children, including FSMPs. According to the applicant, the use of food colours is required to ensure appealing and palatable foods for the dietary management of patients whose compliance with the dietary regime (prescribed by healthcare professionals) is a key factor to their health. The exposure scenarios, based on the use level proposed by the applicant, indicated that the total daily protein requirement (up to 3 g protein/kg bw) could be covered by the products containing synthetic β-carotene [E 160a(ii)] at the level of 5 mg/L in the final diluted product as consumed, without exceeding the amount of β-carotene likely to be ingested from the regular diet as estimated for the same age group (i.e. 0.5–2.9 mg/day). Also, exposure in other scenarios based on different assumptions was always within the range of the typical dietary intake of β-carotene. The ANS Panel concluded that the proposed extension of use of synthetic β-carotene [E 160a(ii)] at the proposed level of 5 mg/L in the final diluted FSMP in young children aged 1–3 years would not be of safety concern (2).

E160a is not subject to restrictions on use but has been authorised 'quantum satis' (3).

References_______________________________________________________________________

(1) Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of mixed carotenes (E 160a (i)) and beta-carotene (E 160a (ii)) as a food additive  EFSA Journal First published: 14 March 2012  DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2593

(2) Safety of the proposed extension of use of synthetic β-carotene [E 160a(ii)] in foods for special medical purposes in young children  EFSA Journal First published: 18 March 2016, DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4434

(3) Bogacz-Radomska, L., Harasym, J., & Piwowar, A. (2020). Commercialization aspects of carotenoids. In Carotenoids: Properties, Processing and Applications (pp. 327-357). Academic Press.