EtqaE160a Carotene
MashboohIs E160a halal? The Etqa database classifies E160a, carotene, as mashbooh, which means doubtful.
Reason
Classified as Mashbooh because while the pigment is plant-based, it often contains animal-derived gelatin stabilizers (porcine or non-halal bovine) not listed on labels.
About E160a
- Number range
- E100–E199: colours
- Origin
- Primarily derived from natural plant sources (carrots, tomatoes), algae (Dunaliella salina), or fungi (Blakeslea trispora), or produced via chemical synthesis. Commercial preparations often involve carriers or stabilizers which may be animal-derived (gelatin) or plant-based (vegetable oils, starch).
- Used in
- Fortified foods
- Dietary supplements
- Infant formulas
- Dairy products
- Margarine and spreads
- Beverages
- Breakfast cereals
- Also called
- Carotene color
- Forms
- E160a(i) Beta-carotene; E160a(ii) Plant carotenes; E160a(iii) Beta-carotene from blakeslea trispora; E160a(iv) Algal carotenes
What this page is. The classification, the reason, the origin and the food uses are quoted from the Etqa ingredient database as of 2 October 2026. The name of the additive, its other names and forms follow the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy. This is information, not a halal certificate and not a fatwa. An ingredient list rarely says where an additive comes from: look for a halal certification mark or ask the manufacturer.
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