FDA Status
GRAS
Color Additive · CAS 7235-40-7 · EU E160a
Beta-Carotene
FDA status: GRAS. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
5.0 / 5
Composite safety Generally Safe
Score 5 of 5
Beta-Carotene: 5/5 (Generally Safe)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Beta-Carotene is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 5 out of 5 (Generally Safe), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. It is more widely-used than most tracked additives.
- 79th percentile by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Beta-Carotene is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. It is more widely-used than most tracked additives (79th percentile by tracked product count).
- 5/5
- Generally Safe
- GRAS
- FDA status
- 79th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 0
- state regulations
Beta-Carotene (E160a), CAS 7235-40-7, is a color additive additive holding a composite safety score of 5 out of 5 (Generally Safe). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as GRAS, while the European Union lists it as Approved. This ingredient appears in approximately 309 tracked food products across our database. It is most commonly used as Margarine, cheese, beverages, baked goods.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Beta-Carotene to date, keeping federal FDA classification as the operative standard. State-level food safety legislation remains active nationally, and that picture may shift as new bills advance.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Beta-Carotene, which factors directly into the assigned safety score. The European Food Safety Authority has published an evaluation dated 2016-03-18. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | GRAS | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | E160a | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 7235-40-7 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Color Additive | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 5 / 5 (Generally Safe) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | 309 | Open Food Facts (US) |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
EU Status
Approved
E160a
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Beta-Carotene's 5/5 (Generally Safe) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA classifies Beta-Carotene as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS), meaning qualified experts consider it safe under intended conditions of use.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Beta-Carotene. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Beta-Carotene compares
Where a safety score of 5/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Beta-Carotene highlighted)
31 of 4,509 scored ingredients (0.7%) share a safety score of 5/5.
What is Beta-Carotene?
Natural orange pigment, precursor to vitamin A.
Health Concerns
- Safe as food color.
Common Uses
Margarine, cheese, beverages, baked goods
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beta-Carotene safe to consume?
Beta-Carotene has a safety score of 5/5 (Generally Safe). It is approved by the FDA for use in food. As with all food additives, moderation is advisable.
What is Beta-Carotene used for in food?
Beta-Carotene is commonly used as: Margarine, cheese, beverages, baked goods. It belongs to the Color Additive category of food additives.
Is Beta-Carotene banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Beta-Carotene. However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Beta-Carotene?
The FDA classifies Beta-Carotene as "GRAS", while the EU status is "Approved" (E160a). The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Beta-Carotene?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Beta-Carotene: Safe as food color.. These findings inform its safety score of 5/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Beta-Carotene calculated?
The safety score of 5/5 for Beta-Carotene is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
Related Color Additive Ingredients
What to do about Beta-Carotene
Use the regulatory picture, not a single score, to decide.
- Check the FDA status (GRAS) and EU status (Approved) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- Compare it against the most-restricted additives in the U.S. supply. View rankings
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.