Beet Juice Powder vs Beta-Carotene: which is worse?

What is Beet Juice Powder?

Beet juice powder is a deep red-purple colorant extracted from red beets (Beta vulgaris), dried to a concentrated powder. The active pigment is betanin (betalain). It provides natural red-to-pink coloring and also contains antioxidant compounds. It is heat-sensitive and may fade during high-temperature processing.

What is Beta-Carotene?

Beta-carotene is an orange pigment found abundantly in carrots, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens. As a food additive (E160a), it is used as a coloring agent providing yellow to orange hues. It also functions as a precursor to vitamin A in the body. Commercial beta-carotene used as a food additive can be extracted from algae (Dunaliella salina) or produced synthetically.

Documented risks

Beet Juice Powder: Generally recognized as safe with no significant toxicological concerns. Consuming beet products can cause beeturia (red/pink urine) and red-tinted stools, which is harmless but may alarm those unaware. Beets are high in oxalates, which could be a concern for individuals with kidney stones (calcium oxalate type) when consuming extremely large quantities of beet concentrate. At normal food coloring use levels, no adverse effects have been identified.

Beta-Carotene: Beta-carotene from food is considered safe and beneficial. However, high-dose beta-carotene supplements (25 mg/day and above) were associated with increased lung cancer risk in two major clinical trials — ATBC (1994) and CARET (1996) — specifically in heavy smokers and asbestos-exposed workers. Food-level exposure from coloring use is far below supplemental doses. Harmless skin yellowing (carotenemia) can occur with very high dietary intake. As a food additive colorant, no significant safety concerns exist.