The coloring of the animal and vegetable kingdom is one of nature’s most magnificent achievements. Among nature’s pigments, the carotenoids are the most common and provide us with some very interesting functions, the most important being to serve as an indicator of the identity and quality of a food source.
Beta-carotene is a yellow to orange pigment which can be found in yellow and orange vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, squash), yellow and orange fruits (apricots, cantaloupe melon, mango, paw, nectarines and peaches) and dark green leafy vegetables.
Beta-carotene is probably the most prominent of carotenoids and has numerous applications in food coloring, for beverages but also confectionery, dairy and bakery products.
