Beta-carotene
Function: Food colours
E160AI is the European food-additive number for Beta-carotene, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. Beta-carotene (E160ai) is a colour used as a food additive.
What is E160AI used for?
Beta-carotene (E160AI) is a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition. See all Food colours (E-numbers).
Is E160AI safe or restricted?
E160AI is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as “Under monitoring” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned, or the guide to how EU additives are approved, re-evaluated and banned.
Is E160AI vegan or vegetarian?
Beta-carotene (E160AI) can be produced from plant, mineral, or animal-derived raw materials, and the ingredient list rarely states which source was used — so its vegan status genuinely depends on the specific product.
The production source can vary between manufacturers — the Forkin app shows product-specific vegan and vegetarian signals where available, based on ingredient and label data. Always read the label for allergens.
Which foods contain E160AI?
E160AI appears in 28,947 of the 4.9 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Cakes, Pastry, and Candy & Sweets.
- Cakes1,366
- Pastry1,224
- Candy & Sweets792
- Protein Powder / Shake733
- Mayonnaise677
- Margarine666
- Dietary Supplements542
- Ice Cream502
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E160AI across the catalogue.
Counts reflect Forkin's independently enriched product catalogue and update as new products are added — they are not a market-share statistic.
Frequently asked questions about E160AI
- What is E160AI?
- E160AI is the E-number for Beta-carotene, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. Beta-carotene (E160ai) is a colour used as a food additive.
- What is E160AI used for?
- Beta-carotene (E160AI) is a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Which foods contain E160AI?
- E160AI appears in 28,947 of the 4.9 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Cakes, Pastry, and Candy & Sweets. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E160AI vegan or vegetarian?
- Beta-carotene (E160AI) can be produced from plant, mineral, or animal-derived raw materials, and the ingredient list rarely states which source was used — so its vegan status genuinely depends on the specific product. The Forkin app shows product-specific vegan and vegetarian signals where available, based on ingredient and label data, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E160AI safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E160AI is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as ‘Under monitoring’ and does not make health claims — see the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E160AI — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan and vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See view pricing.