A shelf life prediction method for butter based on the effects of β‐carotene on colour and oxidative stability

This study aimed to examine the impact of β‐carotene, astaxanthin and phytosterol esters on the colour and oxidative stability of butter, as well as to explore a shelf life prediction method based on colour analysis. The results of correlation analysis indicated a significant linear correlation between acidity and whiteness index and yellowness index, with a linear fit coefficient ( r 2 ) exceeding 0.9796. In comparison with traditional shelf life prediction models, this method exhibited an average deviation of only 6.9% in its predicted results. The findings may contribute to the rapid evaluation of the shelf lives of commercial butter products.