Canthaxanthin in Food

Introduction

There have been media reports concerning the safety of canthaxanthin in salmon.

What is Canthaxanthin

1. Canthaxanthin is a type of carotenoid pigment with an orange-red colour.
2. It occurs naturally in many foods such as mushrooms, crustaceans, fish and eggs. The pigment has also been produced by synthetical means.

Use of Canthaxanthin

1. Canthaxanthin (International food additive number: INS161g) is primarily used as a feed additive for animals. It can lead to a more intensely-coloured egg yolk and flesh from poultry, and a more reddish colour for salmon.
2. It can also be used as a colour additive in foods such as fruit-based spreads, candies, syrups, sauces, carbonated drinks etc. Nevertheless, its use for such purpose is less common than as feeding stuffs for animals.

Safety of Canthaxanthin

1. Some studies have shown that a high intake of canthaxanthins leads to deposition of the pigments in the retina.
2. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has evaluated the safety of canthaxanthin and allocated an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of up to 0.03 mg per kg body weight in 1995. The ADI is the estimated amount of a substance that can be ingested daily (on body weight basis) over a lifetime without appreciable risk.
3. JECFA considered that indirect exposure to canthaxanthin from its use as a feed colourant is the major source of intake, and concluded in its latest evaluation in 2000 that use of this feed additive would not result in long-term dietary intake that exceeds the current ADI.
4. The International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC) has not evaluated the carcinogenicity of canthaxanthin. Nevertheless, there was no evidence for its carcinogenicity in animal studies according to JECFA's evaluations.

Situation Outside Hong Kong

1. Canthaxanthin is a permitted colour additive in foods and animal feeds in many countries including the Mainland, EU, US and Canada.
2. The Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) of EU has assigned the same ADI of 0.03 mg/Kg body weight in 1997.
3. Furthermore, the EU has also revised the maximum permitted levels of canthaxanthin for animal feeds to 25 mg/Kg for salmon and broilers, and 8 mg/kg for laying hens in 2000 based on the intake assessment made by the Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition (SCAN). The new regulation will be implemented by the end of 2003.
4. The Codex Alimentarius Commission is currently considering the draft General Standard for use of canthaxanthin in certain foods.

Situation in Hong Kong

1. In Hong Kong, canthaxanthin is a permitted colouring matter for food use under the colouring Matter in Food Regulations of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap 132.
2. As canthaxanthin is permitted for use in animal feeds in both EU and the Mainland, Hong Kong people are exposed to canthaxanthin from a variety of food including salmon, poultry and poultry products imported from these countries.

Advice to the Public

1. Based on JECFA's evaluation, it is unlikely that the current level of dietary intake of canthaxanthin would cause major health effects.
2. Have a balanced diet.

Risk Assessment Section

May 2003