Canthaxanthin is a food additive used for farmed salmon raised in environments where astaxanthin sources are not available. Canthaxanthin gives salmon a pink color similar to pink/red species of wild salmon, while at the same time acting as an antibiotic.
Health concerns have raised the issue of safety concerning the usage of canthaxanthin in commericially sold salmon. As a result, in the United States, food packaging must indicate if artificial coloring (including, but not limted to canthaxanthin) is added to the fish. In addition, the European Union has set limits on how much canthaxanthin commercially sold fish may contain.
CANTHAXANTHIN EXPLANATION The Committee was aware that canthaxanthin has been used as a direct food additive, as a feed additive, and as an orally-administered pigmenting agent for human skin in both pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.
Canthaxanthin is a diketo carotenoid pigment with an orange-red colour.
Canthaxanthin was measured at autopsy in the tissues of 38 people, aged 22 to 96 years, none of whom were known to have received canthaxanthin therapeutically or in sun-tanning preparations.
Feeds |
Contact