Beta-Carotene · Pro-Vitamin A & Natural Orange-Yellow Color for Foods, Beverages & Nutrition

Key characteristics

• Chemical name: Beta,β-carotene (a carotenoid, pro-vitamin A).
• Form: available as crystalline beta-carotene, oil suspensions, water-dispersible emulsions and beadlet/powder preparations for different process needs.
• Colour: provides a yellow to orange hue depending on concentration, particle size, matrix and path length.
• Solubility & dispersion:
  • Intrinsic fat-soluble carotenoid,
  • Converted into water-dispersible emulsions or beadlets for beverage and instant powder use,
  • Oil suspensions designed for fats, margarines and oil-soluble systems.
• Stability: sensitive to oxidation, light and high temperatures, but significantly improved by antioxidant systems, encapsulation and suitable packaging.
• Function:
  • Source of pro-vitamin A activity (vitamin A precursors),
  • Natural-like colour solution for yellow to orange shades in foods and beverages.
• Regulatory framing: depending on the market, beta-carotene may be considered both as a colour and nutrient; labelling, E-number and vitamin A equivalence must follow local rules.

Atlas supports formulation teams in selecting suitable beta-carotene formats and potencies to achieve the desired colour shade, vitamin A contribution and process performance.

Indicative specification points

Final specifications are agreed according to the selected beta-carotene form (crystalline, oil suspension, powder or beadlets). Typical parameters for stabilised preparations include:

• Beta-carotene content: declared potency (e.g. 1%, 2%, 10%, 20% or higher), verified by appropriate analytical methods.
• Appearance: homogeneous yellow to orange powder, beadlets, emulsion or oil suspension, free from visible foreign matter and caking.
• Colour intensity: defined via spectrophotometric colour strength or equivalent parameters for standardised dosing.
• Carrier system: for powders/beadlets typically based on food-grade carbohydrates, gums, gelatin or other permitted encapsulating materials, as agreed.
• Antioxidant system: inclusion of tocopherols, ascorbyl esters or other permitted antioxidants to help protect beta-carotene from oxidation.
• Loss on drying: controlled to support flow, stability and shelf life.
• Peroxide value and oxidative indicators: defined for oil-based preparations to ensure oxidative quality.
• Particle size distribution: optimised for beverage cloud stability, instant powder behaviour, tableting or encapsulation as required.
• Heavy metals, residual solvents and specific contaminants: controlled in line with global and local regulations for food and nutritional ingredients.
• Microbiological criteria: aligned with good manufacturing practice, with tighter limits available for infant and specialised nutrition grades where applicable.

Each batch is accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and a detailed technical data sheet. Additional documentation (GMO status, allergen declarations, dietary suitability, contaminants, origin, Halal/Kosher certifications) can be provided from approved producers and tailored to destination market needs.

Juices, soft drinks & beverages

• Fruit juices and nectars – beta-carotene provides stable orange or yellow shades and may contribute to vitamin A content where permitted.
• Soft drinks and flavoured waters – used in orange, tropical and citrus drinks via water-dispersible emulsions or powders.
• Energy & functional drinks – combined with B-vitamins, caffeine, taurine and other actives for colour and nutritional positioning.
• Instant beverage powders – beta-carotene beadlets or powders used in orange or tropical flavour drink powders, designed for rapid dispersion and stable colour after reconstitution.

Dairy & plant-based products

• Flavoured milks and dairy drinks – beta-carotene supports creamy yellow or light orange colours and pro-vitamin A content.
• Yoghurts and fermented milks – used in fruit-layer and drinkable yoghurt concepts to enhance colour consistency.
• Plant-based drinks (soy, oat, almond, etc.) – beta-carotene used to match or differentiate colour and nutritional profile vs. dairy references.
• Ice cream and frozen desserts – added via emulsions or premixes to achieve uniform colour and vitamin A positioning.

Fats, oils & margarines

• Margarines and spreads – classic use of beta-carotene for butter-like yellow colour and pro-vitamin A contribution.
• Cooking oils and specialty fats – oil-dispersed beta-carotene used to provide light yellow colour and vitamin A activity.
• Bakery fats and shortenings – integrated into fat phases for colour and nutrients in baked goods.

Confectionery, bakery & instant foods

• Confectionery – beta-carotene used in gummies, jellies and coated sweets for orange and yellow shades, with possible vitamin A contribution.
• Bakery products – cakes, cookies and bakery fillings coloured with beta-carotene in combination with other colour systems.
• Soups, sauces and instant meals – used to provide warm orange/yellow tones in dry and wet culinary applications.

Dietary supplements & nutrition

• Softgel capsules – oil-based beta-carotene preparations for pro-vitamin A supplements alone or in multivitamin products.
• Tablets and hard capsules – beta-carotene beadlets or powders compressed or encapsulated in multivitamin and antioxidant formulas.
• Gummies and chewables – beta-carotene providing both colour and nutritional function in consumer-friendly supplement formats.
• Vitamin & premix systems – integrated into multi-micronutrient premixes for use in food, beverage and nutrition products.

Formulation guidance

• Selection of beta-carotene form depends on:
  • Application matrix (aqueous, oil, emulsion, powder),
  • Desired colour shade and intensity,
  • Target vitamin A equivalence and regulatory framework,
  • Process conditions (heat treatment, homogenisation, aeration, storage).
• For beverages, water-dispersible emulsions or beadlets are typically used, added under controlled mixing to ensure uniform colour and cloud stability.
• For fats, margarines and oils, oil-soluble beta-carotene preparations offer easy incorporation and colour control.
• Protection from light, oxygen and high temperatures is important; appropriate packaging, antioxidants and process sequencing should be implemented.
• Regulatory teams must confirm permitted beta-carotene forms, E-numbers, vitamin A equivalence, labelling requirements and any claim conditions in each destination market.

Quality & documentation

• Supplied as food and nutrition-grade beta-carotene with agreed specifications for potency, colour, impurities and physical properties.
• Each batch is accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and a technical data sheet describing key test parameters and analytical methods.
• Additional documentation can include GMO status, allergen declarations, contaminants and heavy metal data, dietary suitability (e.g. vegetarian/vegan where applicable), BSE/TSE statements, origin and Halal/Kosher certificates, depending on the selected producer and grade.
• Manufacturing sites typically operate under recognised ISO and food safety management systems (e.g. HACCP, FSSC/ISO 22000), with further certifications available on request.
• Customers remain responsible for regulatory compliance, maximum use levels, vitamin A equivalence, colour labelling (e.g. E-numbers) and claim wording in each destination market.

Packaging, storage & logistics

• Standard packaging:
  • Powder and beadlet forms – typically in 20–25 kg fibre drums or cartons with moisture- and light-protective liners,
  • Oil suspensions and emulsions – drums or pails designed for light and oxygen protection.
• Suitable for full-container or mixed-container loads together with other vitamins, colours, sweeteners, acidulants, minerals and functional ingredients.
• Store in a cool, dry place, protected from light, heat, oxygen and odour-intensive materials in order to maintain colour strength and vitamin A activity.
• Typical shelf life is indicated in the product specification and COA; customers should validate beta-carotene and vitamin A retention in their own processes and finished products under intended storage conditions.
• Shipments can be arranged under FOB, CFR, CIF or other agreed Incoterms, with export, customs and quality documentation coordinated from Ankara, Turkey.

To receive a tailored offer, please share your intended applications (juices and soft drinks, dairy and plant-based beverages, margarines and oils, confectionery, instant powders, supplements, etc.), preferred beta-carotene form and potency, target colour shade and vitamin A level per serving, annual volume, packaging needs, documentation/certification requirements and destination markets. Our team will recommend suitable grades and premix concepts.