Canthaxanthin

Canthaxanthin (CAS 514-78-3, E 161g, also known as Food Orange 8 and by the trade name Carophyll Red) is a naturally occurring red-orange carotenoid pigment approved for use in the European Union under the food additive designation E 161g. It belongs to the xanthophyll subclass of carotenoids and carries the molecular formula C40H52O2.

In aquaculture and poultry feed, canthaxanthin deposits directly into flesh, skin, and egg yolk, producing the characteristic pink-red coloration consumers associate with farmed salmon and free-range eggs. It also functions as an antioxidant in formulations by quenching singlet oxygen and scavenging free radicals, extending oxidative stability in fat-containing matrices.

Canthaxanthin is available in synthetic and nature-identical grades, supplied as a crystalline powder or in stabilised beadlet and oil-suspension forms suited to feed and food processing. Regulatory compliance covers EU E 161g approval, REACH registration, and FCC specifications. Minimum order quantities and packaging formats are confirmed at enquiry.