The majority (85±97%) of vitamin A activity in foods is
attributed to theand-carotene content (Sweeney and
Marsh, 1971). Beside their pro-vitamin A activity, the
antioxidant activity of and -carotene may have
important eects in cancer prevention (Riboli et al.,
1996; Santoset al., 1996). The amount of carotene may
be diminished during drying. Therefore, it was of interest to establish the eects of the dierent drying processes on the stability ofand-carotene. Fresh carrot
was found to contain 434mg -carotene/g solid and
1153mg-carotene/g solid (Fig. 5). When subjected to
blanching,-carotene content decreased slightly, while
-carotene content did not signi®cantly change. Air