ABSTRACTTomato paste carotenoids were separated by gradient‐elution normal‐phase open‐column chromatography and analyzed by isocratic‐elution reverse‐phase HPLC with UV‐VIS photodiode array detection. The normal‐phase elution order of the trans pigments was phytoene, phytofluene, beta‐, zeta‐, gamma‐carotene and lycopene. The four dominant tomato paste carotenoids (550 ppm), in increasing quantities, were phytofluene, beta‐carotene, phytoene and lycopene. Simultaneous multi‐channel monitoring and rapid spectral scans allowed the detection of cis‐isomers (e.g., lycopene, phytofluene and beta‐carotene) and minor carotenoid components (e.g., alpha‐carotene, lycoxanthin and cis‐mutatoxanthin). Presentation of results in isograms (wavelength versus retention time) and an extr