Carrot oil
Carrot oil suppliers and sourcing guide
Carrot oil, as a US color additive, is the oily extract obtained by extracting edible carrots, Daucus carota, with hexane and then removing the hexane by vacuum distillation. It is a mix of oils, fats, waxes and the carrots' natural carotenoids, and gives a yellow to orange color in fat-based foods. It is different from carrot seed essential oil and from carrot root macerated in carrier oil, which are sold for cosmetics.
- Category
- Colors
- Also known as
- Daucus carota oil · Carrot oleoresin · Carrot extract (color)
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of carrot oil
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Liquid oil
The liquid fraction of the extract, often standardized in vegetable oil to a stated carotene content.
Solid or waxy fraction
The solid portion or the whole mixture, which can need warming before use.
Diluted grades
Carrot oil let down in a vegetable oil carrier for easier dosing in margarine, dressings and snacks.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Residual hexane
- Hexane by headspace GC, which 21 CFR 73.300 caps at 25 ppm.
- Carotene content
- Total carotenoids or beta-carotene by spectrophotometry or HPLC, the basis for dose.
- Peroxide and acid value
- Peroxide value and free fatty acids by titration, showing oxidation and freshness of the oil.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic and mercury by ICP-MS, reported against the limits in the color additive regulation and the supplier specification.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen for pesticides that can carry over from carrots into the oil.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Carotenoids and the oil oxidize with heat, light and air, so store carrot oil sealed in full, opaque containers, cool, and with nitrogen headspace where possible. Warm and mix solidified material gently before sampling. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, with carotene and peroxide value retested on older stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Carotene content varies with carrot crop, so record carotene and peroxide value for each lot. Rotate first-expired, first-out since both color and oil quality decline with age.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 73.300 defines carrot oil as the extract obtained by hexane extraction of edible carrots (Daucus carota L.), with the hexane removed by vacuum distillation.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 73.300 limits residual hexane in carrot oil to 25 ppm.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 73.300 lists carrot oil for coloring foods generally, exempt from certification.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Carrot oil suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking carrot oil suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell carrot oil? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of carrot oil can brands buy?
Common forms include liquid oil, solid or waxy fraction and diluted grades. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for carrot oil include?
Expect residual hexane, carotene content, peroxide and acid value, heavy metals and pesticide residues, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should carrot oil be stored?
Carotenoids and the oil oxidize with heat, light and air, so store carrot oil sealed in full, opaque containers, cool, and with nitrogen headspace where possible. Warm and mix solidified material gently before sampling. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, with carotene and peroxide value retested on older stock.
What is the regulatory status of carrot oil?
21 CFR 73.300 defines carrot oil as the extract obtained by hexane extraction of edible carrots (Daucus carota L.), with the hexane removed by vacuum distillation. 21 CFR 73.300 limits residual hexane in carrot oil to 25 ppm. 21 CFR 73.300 lists carrot oil for coloring foods generally, exempt from certification.
More colors
- AnnattoAnnatto extract · Bixa orellana
- Caramel colorCaramel · E150a
- Paprika oleoresinPaprika extract · Capsicum annuum
- Turmeric oleoresinTurmeric extract · Curcuma longa
- Carmine (cochineal)Cochineal extract · Carminic acid
- Spirulina extract (color)Phycocyanin · Arthrospira platensis extract
- Vegetable juice colorVegetable juice (color) · Coloring foodstuff
- Fruit juice colorFruit juice (color) · Coloring foodstuff
- Butterfly pea flower extractClitoria ternatea extract · Blue pea flower extract
- Beet juice colorBeet red · Beetroot red
- Grape skin extractEnocianina · Grape skin extract (enocianina)
- Sodium copper chlorophyllinChlorophyllin-copper complex · Copper chlorophyllin
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