Canthaxanthin in Chinese eggs and dietary risk
What it found
Canthaxanthin was found in eggs from different parts of China, and the estimated dietary exposure for children, teenagers and adults was judged to be an acceptable risk.
The amount varied by region, with eggs from Beijing having less than those from other areas.
What they found
Studies in people
Exposure in children
For children aged 2 to 10, the average dietary exposure was 0.242 to 0.653 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day. The highest exposure was 3.089 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day, and the risk quotient was 0.103, which is below 1 and was called an acceptable risk.
Exposure in teenagers
For teenagers aged 11 to 18, the average dietary exposure was 0.141 to 0.247 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day. The authors say this presents an acceptable risk.
Exposure in adults
For adults, the dietary risk from eating eggs with canthaxanthin was the lowest among the three age groups.
Other findings
Canthaxanthin levels in eggs
The amount of canthaxanthin varied a lot depending on where the eggs came from. Eggs produced in Beijing had a lower amount than those from other regions.
What the authors conclude
- They report that the dietary risk from canthaxanthin in eggs was acceptable for children, teenagers and adults.
- They note that the risk was lowest for adults among the three age groups.
How it was done
Canthaxanthin is a colourant used in medicine, food and cosmetics and is closely related to human eye dysfunction. The authors wanted to protect people's diet health and avoid food safety accidents.
They measured canthaxanthin in 114 egg samples from different regions of China using a lab method called UPLC-MS/MS. They then used a dietary exposure assessment to estimate the risk to Chinese consumers.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This study measured canthaxanthin in eggs and estimated dietary exposure. It cannot show whether eating these eggs causes any health effect in people.
- The risk assessment is based on the amount of canthaxanthin found in the eggs and how much people might eat. It does not prove cause and effect.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Test Technology on Food Quality and Safety, China; Shandong Agricultural University, China
The paper
- Title
- Evaluation of canthaxanthin in eggs and its subsequent dietary risks to Chinese consumers
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Xue X, Fan L, Dong Y, et al (2021). Evaluation of canthaxanthin in eggs and its subsequent dietary risks to Chinese consumers. Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment. doi:10.1080/19440049.2020.1853822PubMed 33406008DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error