Canthaxanthin

Canthaxanthin (CAS 514-78-3), also sold under the trade names Carophyll Red and Orobronze, and designated E161g in the EU, is a red-orange ketocarotenoid pigment used to deliver and stabilize color in food and feed applications. It functions as both a colorant and an antioxidant, making it a dual-purpose ingredient for formulators working across nutrition and pigmentation categories. In aquaculture and poultry feed, it is used to achieve consistent flesh and egg yolk pigmentation.

This directly influences the visual quality that drives consumer purchasing decisions. Salmon and trout producers rely on it as a primary pigmentation agent to meet market color specifications. In food manufacturing, it is approved for specific product categories. These categories include certain cheeses, sausage casings, and decorative confectionery coatings. It also appears in dietary supplement formulations targeting carotenoid intake, where its antioxidant activity supports product positioning.

The product is supplied as a fine crystalline powder and in stabilized beadlet or dispersion forms designed for feed and food processing compatibility. Standard commercial grades include feed-grade and food-grade specifications. The beadlet form is commonly used to improve handling and dispersibility in premix and dry blend applications. Purity levels and carrier systems vary by grade and intended regulatory market to ensure compliance with global standards.