Carotenoid photostability in raw spinach and carrots during cold storage

The loss of pigment in spinach leaves is greater if they are stored in the presence of light. The pigment violaxanthin is less stable than leutin. Storage in the dark does not cause the loss of any pigment except all of the trans-beta-carotenes. There is an equilibrium between the three sterioismeric forms of beta-carotenes. In carrots none of the pigments are affected by light or dark storage. In both spinach and carrots the 9-cis form of beta-carotene is more than that of 13-cis beta-carotene.