A powdered water-dispersible carotenoid preparation in the form of discrete carotenoid microparticles is prepared by milling a carotenoid in an aqueous medium in the presence of a hydrocolloid so as to form a suspension, heating the suspension thus formed to a sufficiently high temperature to cause a total or partial melting of the carotenoid and cooling, finely dividing and drying the suspension to form a powder.
A dry powder that contains carotenoids produced by grinding a mixture of carotenoids and oil to reduce the carotenoid particle size, emulsifying the mixture with an encapsulating mixture, and drying the emulsification. The encapsulating mixture includes a starch encapsulating agent, a sugar, and an anti-oxidant. The resulting water-dispersible powder contains a high concentration of carotenoids, yet is protected from oxidation.
