Stability of β‐carotene in model systems containing sulphite

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Abstract
Summary: The effect of sulphur dioxide, aw, storage temperature and storage atmosphere on the stability of β‐carotene in non‐sulphited and sulphited model systems was examined. Stability of β‐carotene was enhanced greatly by SO2 added either as a sulphite solution to cellulose powder prior to β‐carotene adsorption, or as a gas in the headspace of tinplate cans containing β‐carotene; β‐Carotene stability was much improved with increasing nitrogen levels in the atmosphere. the effect was more significant when N2 was replaced by SO2. the stability of β‐carotene was also increased when non‐sulphited and sulphited samples were stored at a monolayer aw.Activation energies for destruction of β‐carotene in non‐sulphited and sulphited systems (10.3‐12.8 kcal/mole) were considerably lower than for autoxidation of linoleic acid or its esters (15.2–17.2 kcal/mole), suggesting that carotenoid oxidation is more favoured than the autoxidation of linoleic acid or its esters.