Digestoa
Additive · Colour

Carotenes (E160A)

Carotenes (E160A) is a colour that Digestoa rates as low concern — it's considered safe at the levels used in food.

Digestoa riskNo known risk
TypeColour
Found inbrightly coloured sweets, soft drinks, breakfast cereals, snacks and desserts

What is Carotenes?

Carotenes (E160A) is a colour — added to give food a specific colour.

Is Carotenes bad for you?

Carotenes is permitted in food and Digestoa rates it as low concern. There's no strong evidence it causes harm at the levels typically used in food.

What foods contain Carotenes?

Brightly coloured sweets, soft drinks, breakfast cereals, snacks and desserts.

Digestoa's take

You don't need to avoid Carotenes. It's one of the more benign things on an ingredients list — worth knowing, not worth worrying about.

Safer swaps

Choose products coloured with natural extracts like beetroot (E162), paprika (E160c) or turmeric (E100).

Frequently asked questions

Is E160A the same as Carotenes?
Yes — E160A is the international additive (E-number) code for Carotenes.
Is Carotenes bad for you?
Digestoa rates Carotenes (E160A) as low concern. It's permitted in food and considered safe at normal dietary levels.
What are the side effects of Carotenes?
No significant side effects are associated with Carotenes at the levels used in food.
What foods contain Carotenes?
Brightly coloured sweets, soft drinks, breakfast cereals, snacks and desserts.
How can I avoid Carotenes?
Check the ingredients list for "Carotenes" or "E160A", or scan the product with Digestoa to see if it's present before you buy.

Related colour additives

Titanium dioxide (E171)Tartrazine (E102)Quinoline Yellow (E104)Sunset Yellow FCF (E110)Azorubine / Carmoisine (E122)Ponceau 4R (E124)

Risk ratings reflect Digestoa's editorial assessment synthesising EFSA/IARC opinions and peer-reviewed research. Informational only — not medical advice.