Disclosed are: a highly pure, inexpensive and safe composition having a highcarotenoid content； a method for the industrial production of the composition；a functional food, a pharmaceutical composition or a cosmetic comprising thecomposition； and a method for the production of a composition having a carotenoidcontent of at least 80%, which is characterized by extracting a microbial culturewith a lower alcohol having a temperature of 80˚C or higher or a combinationof water and an lower alcohol both having temperatures of 80˚C or higherto produce an extract, and washing and filtrating a precipitate obtained fromthe extract with a combination of a lower alcohol and water.
