Canthaxanthin - your questions answered

Canthaxanthin (E 161g) is substance belonging to a group of substances called carotenoids. These substances are related to beta-carotene, the red/orange pigment present in carrots; beta-carotene itself is related to vitamin A. The presence of canthaxanthin (and related substances) in poultry feed can lead to a more intensely-coloured egg yolk and flesh from poultry, salmon and trout.

Yes, canthaxanthin can be added to feeds intended for poultry and for farmed salmon and trout. It can also be used for some ‘companion animals’.

Canthaxanthin does occur in nature e.g. in aquatic crustacea such as shrimps. However, we understand that much of the material added to feed is made synthetically.

Yes, canthaxanthin is permitted as a food colour (i.e. direct food use), but only for Saucisses de Strasbourg (very little consumption in UK). A similar substance, beta-apo-8’-carotenal, is permitted for use in a large number of foods.

There is no reason why consumers in good health should not continue to consume foods that contain normal levels of canthaxanthin.

Yes, astaxanthin (E 161j) may be used in feed for salmon and trout. Capsanthin (E160c), Beta–apo-8’-carotenal (E160e), Ethyl ester of beta–apo-8’-carotenoic (E160f), Lutein (E160b), Cryptoxanthin (E161c) and Zeaxanthin (E1161h) are permitted to be added to poultry feed, and Citranaxanthin (E161i) for use only for laying hens.

No, not at present. However, the need to declare the presence in a food of colouring agents used in the feed of food producing animals was discussed by the Standing Committee for Foodstuffs at its meeting in December last year. A large majority of Member States were in favour of draft legislation being prepared to deal with this issue, and the UK suggested the most appropriate legislative vehicle for this would be the food labelling directive (Directive 2000/13/EC). The European Commission has agreed to convene an Expert Group to discuss the issue.

In feeds for poultry canthaxanthin can be added at up to 80 mg per kilogram of feed. The same maximum level applies for feed for farmed salmon and trout. However, 5 mg/kg (where added) would be closer to the level used in feed for laying hens, with 20 mg/kg (again, where added) being used in broiler feed. We understand that up to 80 mg/kg is used in feed for farmed salmon and trout.

Yes, it is believed that canthaxanthin and other carotenoids have some positive nutritional effects on the diet - they are believed to act as dietary antioxidants.

SCAN were of the view that the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0 – 0.03 mg per kg body weight per person per day for canthaxanthin might be currently exceeded by high consumers of salmonid and/or poultry products.
The ADI, expressed on a milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight basis, is the amount of a substance than can be taken daily in the diet over a lifetime with minimal risk. They suggest that this situation be managed by reducing the maximum permitted levels (MPLs) in feed.

SCAN has recommended that the MPLs be reduced to:

Animal category       Suggested MPL (mg/kg feed)
Laying hens                    8
Broilers                         25
Salmon and trout           25

It is unlikely that 25 mg canthaxanthin per kg of fish feed alone would be sufficient to provide the current level pigmentation in farmed salmon and trout. SCAN has suggested that this deficit might be addressed by using astaxanthin (see questions 6 and 8). However, it is expected that the new levels proposed for poultry would be adequate.

The ADI is usually derived from long-term animal feeding studies. First, the so-called No Effect Level (NOEL) is determined. This is the amount of a substance, which can be fed to animals on a daily basis without any toxic effect. This No Effect Level is then reinforced by a large safety factor, usually 100, to arrive at the ADI for man. For example, if the No Effect Level in an animal study is observed to be 100 mg/kg bodyweight, this is then converted to an ADI of 1 mg/kg bodyweight for humans.
The safety factor accounts for the difference between test species and humans and for the variability between individuals, including differences in state of health and nutrition, age, etc..
The ADI does not represent a level of toxicity; it is in fact a safe intake level. Individuals may exceed the ADI occasionally, so long as their average exposure is below the ADI. Although called an acceptable daily intake, the ADI should always be compared with average intakes over prolonged periods - not with day to day intakes.

The ADI for canthaxanthin has been set by the European Commission’s Scientific Committee for Food (SCF) and by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (JECFA). These are groups that have the necessary expertise to assess the safety of additives and to set ADIs.

There is some evidence that high intakes of the substance leads to deposition on the retina. This deposition is believed to deplete once exposure to high levels of canthaxanthin has ended.

This responsibility rests with local authority trading standards officers.