Zeaxanthin: authorised novel food in the EU

Conditions of use and maximum levels

Table 1, column "Conditions under which the novel food may be used", as written:

• Food Supplements as defined in Directive 2002/46/EC: 2 mg/day

Additional specific labelling requirements

The designation of the novel food on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘Zeaxanthin’.

Specification (Table 2)

Table 2 of the Annex, row with the same name, as written:

Description/Definition:

Zeaxanthin is a naturally occurring xanthophyll pigment, it is an oxygenated carotenoid.

The synthetic zeaxanthin is presented either as a spray-dried powder of gelatin or starch base (‘beadlets’) with added α-tocopherol and ascorbyl palmitate or as a corn oil suspension with added α-tocopherol. Synthetic zeaxanthin is produced by a multi-step chemical synthesis from smaller molecules.

Orange-red crystalline powder with little or no odour.

Chemical formula: C40H56O2

CAS No: 144-68-3

Molecular weight: 568,9 daltons

Physical-chemical properties:

Loss on drying: < 0,2 %

All-trans zeaxanthin: > 96 %

Cis-zeaxanthin: < 2,0 %

Other carotenoids: < 1,5 %

Triphenylphosphine oxid (CAS No 791-28-6): < 50 mg/kg

Source and version

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, Annex, Union list of novel foods, Table 1. Consolidated text of 10 August 2026. The text above is copied from that document without change except that amendment markers are removed. It is not advice and it does not decide whether a particular product is covered.

• Consolidated text on EUR-Lex

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