The carotenoid yields obtained from the SC-CO2 extraction at all combinations of temperature, pressure and canola oil concentration and the carotenoids content of the starting material were shown in Fig. 3. No carotenoids were detected in the co-solvent, canola oil, by HPLC analysis. In addition, precautions were carefully taken to minimize carotenoids degradation due to sample handling, such as covering the extract collection tubes with aluminum foil, keeping the extracts in cold bath (−20 °C) throughout extraction, adding BHT to extracts and flushing the vials containing the carotenoid extracts with nitrogen prior to storage in a freezer (−18 °C). Thus, the HPLC results are taken as true representation of the amount of carotenoids extracted from the carrot sample. Any potential oxidation of carotenoids throughout extraction is avoided in the CO2 environment. As well, since the heat applied to the metering valve was kept at a minimum possible level to maintain a consistent flow of CO2 without any freezing, it is not anticipated to cause any carotenoid degradation