Xanthophylls
Safe, natural pigments with potential health benefits.
- Category
- Colours
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
What it is
A large subgroup of carotenoid pigments that contain oxygen, producing vibrant yellow and orange colors.
How it is used in food
Xanthophylls are oxygen-containing carotenoids that deliver warm yellow to orange shades in drinks, confectionery, dairy and sauces while doubling as antioxidants. Several members are genuinely nutritionally useful: lutein and zeaxanthin accumulate in the macula of the retina, where they filter blue light and quench free radicals, and beta-cryptoxanthin also acts as a provitamin A source.
Commonly found in- Poultry feed
- Dietary supplements
- Food coloring
Health and safety
Completely safe. Many xanthophylls, like lutein, are beneficial for human eye health.
The large NIH-funded AREDS2 trial found that lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation reduced progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration in people with low dietary intake, and they replaced beta-carotene in the study formula because beta-carotene raised lung-cancer risk in smokers. In the EU, lutein is authorised separately as E161b; several other xanthophylls in this series are no longer on the permitted list.
Regulatory status
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia & New Zealand FSANZ |
Permitted | Permitted under the FSANZ Food Standards Code. |
| European Union EFSA / European Commission |
Not approved | Not on the EU authorised list of food additives (Annex II). |
| United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration) |
Permitted | Authorised for food use by the FDA (often GRAS for standard additives). |
Identification on labels
- E-number
- E161
Worth knowing
These are the pigments behind autumn leaves — they are present in green foliage all summer but masked by chlorophyll, and become visible only when the chlorophyll degrades. The same compounds, fed to hens, are what make egg yolks deep yellow rather than pale.
Conclusion
Safe, natural pigments with potential health benefits.
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Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
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