E160eColour
Beta-apo-8′-carotenal (c30)
What the research shows
Concerning
in animal and lab studies only
Used in food as a colour.
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- EU permitted
What research says
Animal and lab studies only
-
Concern
Kidney changes in rats1
In animal studies, beta-apo-8′-carotenal caused kidney changes, so scientists set a lower daily intake limit.
How it’s made and used
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Gut absorption of carotenoids2
In lab studies, beta-apo-8'-carotenal was taken up fast by intestinal cells and mostly changed into other compounds.
The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.
What expert reviews concluded
Expert panels that weigh all the research. Shown for context: the signal at the top does not count them.
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UN and WHO food additive experts (JECFA), 2026
Reviewed its safety in 2026.
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
European Union Permitted EUR-Lex Reg. (EC) 1333/2008
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United Kingdom Permitted FSA retained EU law
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating. A country appears here once we've found this ingredient on its official list.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 542 products on Open Food Facts that list beta-apo-8′-carotenal (c30).
- Chocolate M&M m&m's · 45 g 10 additives
- Skittles Mars norge · 174 g 14 additives
- M&ms crispy M&ms · 340 g 10 additives
- peanut m&m's Mars Wrigley · 112 g 10 additives
- LYTE Peach Mango Sports Drink BODYARMOR · 20 oz 7 additives
- BODYARMOR Sports Drink Strawberry Banana BODYARMOR 5 additives
References
- 1EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS). Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of β-apo-8'-carotenal (E 160e) as a food additive. EFSA J. 2012;10(3):2499. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2499
- 2Durojaye BO, Riedl KM, Curley RW Jr, Harrison EH. Uptake and metabolism of β-apo-8'-carotenal, β-apo-10'-carotenal, and β-apo-13-carotenone in Caco-2 cells. J Lipid Res. 2019;60(6):1121-1135. doi:10.1194/jlr.M093161