Spices · Spice
Annatto (achiote)
Bixa orellana · also called Achiote, urucum, annatto seed, E160b (food colour code)
Annatto is the red seed coating of the achiote tree, used to turn food orange-red. It is mild, earthy and a little peppery. We found no good evidence of a health benefit from eating it; the research is on pure bixin in the lab and one trial of annatto-enriched eggs. The main caution is rare but real allergy.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Annatto (achiote)
Annatto is a seed used mostly for colour. It adds little taste and almost no nutrition, and it is not a proven remedy. The research is thin. The practical caution is rare allergy.
What it is
Annatto comes from the achiote tree, Bixa orellana, believed to come from tropical regions between Mexico and Brazil. The colour is in the reddish, waxy coating of the seeds.
The seeds are sold whole, ground or as pastes, and are also the source of a food colour used in cheese, butter and snack foods. The colour comes from two pigments, bixin (fat-soluble) and norbixin (water-soluble).
As a spice, annatto is mild. Wikipedia describes it as earthy, sweet and peppery. Cooks use it as a paste or powder, or draw out the colour with hot water, oil or lard. Examples include recado rojo in Mexico and Belize, sazon and pasteles in Puerto Rico, hallacas in Venezuela and pancit palabok sauce in the Philippines.
Nutrition
USDA has no entry for plain annatto seed. The one record, a dry sazon seasoning of coriander and annatto, shows no calories, fibre or minerals but 17,000 mg of sodium per 100 g. That is a salty blend, not pure annatto, so read labels if you watch sodium.
What the research shows
One randomized trial of 105 healthy adults in Colombia gave two eggs a day, two eggs with annatto, or two egg whites for 8 weeks. Blood fats did not change in any group. In the annatto-egg group, people said they felt fuller, but the hunger hormone ghrelin did not change.
A 2026 review describes antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other effects of purified bixin in lab and animal work, and says its use in medicine is limited because it dissolves poorly and breaks down easily. No human trial of bixin was described.
The egg trial was publicly funded; a company supplied the eggs and says it had no role in the study.
Food versus pure bixin
Annatto in a recipe, annatto food colour and purified bixin are different things. Lab results on bixin cannot be assumed for the spice.
Amounts
This page gives no amounts to use. Ask a doctor, pharmacist or dietitian what is right for you, especially if you have allergies or plan to use supplements.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Colouring and flavoring in Latin American, Caribbean and Filipino cooking
- Colouring cheese, butter and snack foods
- Traditional body paint and other uses in the Americas
- Long use as a colour is not proof that it treats any condition
Studied for research
- Blood fats and heart-risk markers, low certainty, no benefit shown
- Feeling full, very low certainty, from enriched eggs
- Antioxidant and other effects of bixin, very low certainty, lab only
- Food colour safety, moderate certainty, regulatory finding
Main compounds
- Bixin
- Norbixin
Common forms
- Whole seeds
- Ground seed
- Paste such as recado rojo
- Seed steeped in oil or lard
- Food colour extract (E160b)
- Seasoning blends such as sazon
Research links: 2023 trial: annatto-enriched eggs and blood fats · 2026 review: bixin · 1991 case report: anaphylaxis to annatto dye · EFSA 2019 opinion on annatto E · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Bixa orellana
- Naming authority
- L. (GBIF accepted)
- Common names
- Annatto (English); Achiote (Spanish); Urucum (Portuguese); E160b (food colour code) (EU code)
- Family or group
- Bixaceae, per GBIF.
- Classification
- Plantae > Malvales > Bixaceae > Bixa > Bixa orellana
- Native range
- Wikipedia says the tree is believed to come from tropical regions between Mexico and Brazil.
- Habitat
- Not verified from a source read.
- What it looks like
- Roots: Not verified.; Stems: Not verified.; Leaves: Not verified.; Flowers: Not verified.; Fruit: The colour comes from the reddish waxy coating of the seeds (Wikipedia).
- Cultivation
- Not verified from a source read.
- Harvest and processing
- Seeds are ground to a powder or paste, or the colour is drawn out with hot water, oil or lard (Wikipedia). Industry extracts are made with solvents or alkaline solutions; the US colour rule lists the allowed extractants (21 CFR 73.30).
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Saffron, turmeric and paprika; Note: Other spices used for yellow to red-orange colour. Cheesemakers used saffron, marigold and carrot juice before annatto, according to Wikipedia. They are different plants with different flavors and safety facts.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not researched.
Photographs
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | ||
| Wikipedia (secondary source) |
Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bixin | carotenoid (fat-soluble pigment) | Waxy coating of the seed Wikipedia: seeds contain 4.5 to 5.5 percent pigment, 70 to 80 percent of it bixin. | Gives the orange-red colour. Lab and animal studies report antioxidant and other effects; no human trial of bixin was read. 11 4 | Lab and animal |
| Norbixin | carotenoid (water-soluble pigment) | Made from bixin by saponification | Yellower colour. EFSA set a daily limit for norbixin separately from bixin. 11 7 | Regulatory |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| NRF2 and STAT6 signalling; oxidative stress | NRF2, STAT6 | A 2026 review abstract names activation of the NRF2 pathway and suppression of STAT6 signalling by bixin in lab systems. 4 | Lab and animal |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- The 2026 review says bixin has poor solubility, stability and bioavailability, which limits clinical use.
- Distribution
- Not found.
- Metabolism
- Not found.
- Elimination
- Not found.
- Bioavailability
- Described as limited in the review abstract. The egg trial authors suggest egg fat may help carotenoid uptake; this was not measured in the papers read.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
Nearly all the health research is on purified bixin in the lab. The one human trial used annatto powder mixed into eggs. The food colour (bixin or norbixin extract) is a separate product from the seed or paste in a recipe.
Nutritional composition
Nutrition from USDA FoodData Central. USDA has no entry for annatto seed or ground annatto. The nearest record is a dry sazon seasoning of coriander and annatto (FDC 172242, SR Legacy, last updated 4/1/2019, read 2026-10-26). Per 100 g of that blend: 0 kcal, 0 g protein, 0 g fat, 0 g carbohydrate, 0 g fibre, 0 mg calcium, 0 mg iron, 0 mg vitamin C and 17,000 mg sodium, which is about 170 mg sodium per gram. This is a salty blend, not pure annatto, and real products vary. No nutrient values are given for plain annatto because none were found.
1 high certainty1 moderate certainty1 low certainty2 very low certainty
What was looked at
The 5 benefits and uses checked for Annatto (achiote), each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.
- Blood fats and heart-risk markers (annatto-enriched eggs, one trial)Low certainty
- Feeling full after meals (annatto-enriched eggs, same trial)Very low certainty
- Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other effects of bixin (lab and animal research)Very low certainty
- Safety of annatto food colour (a regulatory finding, not a health benefit)Moderate certainty
- Nutrition from annatto in cookingHigh certainty
Lab markers tracked in the studies
Blood fats (triglycerides, LDL, HDL) after annatto-enriched eggsGhrelin (hunger hormone) after annatto-enriched eggs
What is Annatto (achiote) good for?
The main studied uses and how strong the human evidence is for each. The only human trial used eggs with annatto, not annatto as a spice. Most research is on purified bixin in the lab.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Blood fats and heart-risk markers (annatto-enriched eggs, one trial)
Low certaintyOne trial gave healthy adults two eggs a day, or two eggs with annatto, for 8 weeks. Blood fats did not change in either group. No benefit was shown, and no harm was seen in these markers.
1 studiesEggs from hens given an annatto-enriched feed or a mix; annatto powde…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A parallel randomized trial of 105 healthy men and women in Colombia. Groups ate two eggs, two eggs with annatto, or two egg whites daily for 8 weeks. No significant changes over time or between groups in triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B or lipoprotein subfractions.
Results
Null result: no significant change in any blood fat measured. The authors conclude eggs, with or without annatto, did not cause adverse changes in these markers.
Effect sizes as reported
No significant differences, so no effect size is reported for blood fats.
Why this rating
Low that eggs with annatto do not change these markers in healthy adults: one randomized trial, 8 weeks, healthy people, a design that mixes eggs and annatto, so it cannot say what annatto alone does. The trial was publicly funded; a company supplied the eggs and says it had no role.
Form and dose studied
Eggs from hens given an annatto-enriched feed or a mix; annatto powder as an ingredient. Not annatto as a cooking spice and not a supplement.
Who was studied
105 healthy adults in Colombia. Nobody with high cholesterol or heart disease was studied.
Limits
Healthy participants had little room for improvement. One trial, one place, 8 weeks. The comparison group ate eggs, so the trial tests a difference between annatto eggs and plain eggs.
Why researchers looked
Annatto pigments are carotenoids, and researchers wanted to know whether eggs enriched with annatto change heart-risk markers.
Traditional use
Annatto is used mainly for colour and flavor in Latin American, Caribbean and Filipino cooking. That use is not evidence for any health effect.
Proposed mechanism Hypothesis
The authors suggest the fat in eggs may help the body take up carotenoids such as annatto. This is their idea, not a result of the trial.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
The trial reports no adverse change in heart-risk markers. It is too small to detect rare allergy.
Feeling full after meals (annatto-enriched eggs, same trial)
Very low certaintyIn the same trial, people who ate annatto-enriched eggs reported feeling fuller afterwards. The hormone marker for hunger did not change, so the authors call it a trend.
1 studiesAnnatto-enriched eggs, not annatto spice and not a supplement.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Same 105 healthy adults, 8 weeks. Ghrelin, body measures, activity and eating profile did not change significantly in any group. In the egg plus annatto group, self-reported satiety (feeling full) rose after the 8 weeks (effect size 0.431, p < 0.05).
Results
Subjective fullness rose in the annatto-egg group. The objective marker did not move.
Effect sizes as reported
Effect size 0.431 for self-reported satiety in the egg plus annatto group, as stated in the abstract.
Why this rating
Self-reported outcome in one small trial, with no matching change in the objective marker. The abstract was read, not the full paper, and the finding is described by the authors as a tendency.
Form and dose studied
Annatto-enriched eggs, not annatto spice and not a supplement.
Who was studied
Healthy adults in Colombia.
Limits
Subjective measure, no blinding details were read, and only the abstract was read for this paper.
Why researchers looked
Eggs are known to be filling, and the authors asked whether adding annatto changes that.
Proposed mechanism Hypothesis
Not established. The authors measured ghrelin (a hunger hormone) and found no change.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
No safety signal in this outcome.
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other effects of bixin (lab and animal research)
Very low certaintyA 2026 review describes many effects of bixin, the main annatto pigment, in lab and animal work. It also says bixin is hard to use as a medicine because it dissolves poorly and breaks down easily. No human benefit is shown.
1 studiesPurified bixin and nano-formulations in lab systems. Not annatto seed…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
The abstract describes no human trial of bixin. We found no trial of eating annatto spice for these outcomes.
Results
The review lists antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, liver-protective, kidney-protective and sun-protective effects as reported in lab and animal studies of purified bixin.
Why this rating
Narrative review of lab and animal work on a purified pigment. Nothing in people. Only the abstract was read.
Form and dose studied
Purified bixin and nano-formulations in lab systems. Not annatto seed, paste or food colour.
Limits
Abstract only. Lab results often do not carry over to people. A review that sets out to show promise may stress positive findings.
Why researchers looked
Bixin is a carotenoid, and carotenoids are often tested as antioxidants.
Traditional use
Annatto has a long history as a colouring and in traditional uses in the Americas. Long use is not proof of a health effect.
Proposed mechanism Lab and animal
The abstract names activation of the NRF2 pathway (a cell defence switch), suppression of STAT6 signalling, and effects on oxidative stress and inflammatory chemicals in lab systems.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
This is not a reason to take concentrated bixin or annatto extracts. Ask a doctor or pharmacist first.
Safety of annatto food colour (a regulatory finding, not a health benefit)
Moderate certaintyThe European food safety agency (EFSA) set daily limits for the two annatto pigments and judged that the annatto extract used as a food colour does not raise a gene-damage concern. This is about food colour in processed foods, not about the spice in a recipe.
2 studiesAnnatto food colour (E 160b) as bixin and norbixin extracts.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Regulatory assessment of safety and estimated intake, not a trial in people.
Results
EFSA concluded in 2019 that annatto E does not raise a genotoxicity concern, so the daily limits set for bixin and norbixin also apply to it. For toddlers and children, modelled norbixin intake at the high end could reach the limit, but EFSA judged exposure estimates very likely overestimated and saw no health concern.
Why this rating
Moderate: an official EU panel assessment read in full from the published opinions; it is a modelled safety judgement, not proof from long-term human studies. The 2016 opinion itself was not opened.
Form and dose studied
Annatto food colour (E 160b) as bixin and norbixin extracts.
Who was studied
Whole population, including children, by modelling.
Limits
Applies to the food additive, not to whole seeds, pastes or supplements. Exposure is modelled, not measured.
Why researchers looked
Annatto (E 160b) is a widely used food colour, so regulators review it.
Proposed mechanism Regulatory
EFSA reviewed toxicology and a new study that settled an earlier gene-damage question about annatto E.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Daily limits exist for the pigments. Ask a doctor or dietitian if a child eats many annatto-coloured foods.
Nutrition from annatto in cooking
High certaintyAnnatto is used for colour, not nutrition, and USDA has no entry for plain annatto seed. The only USDA record is a salty seasoning blend, which shows no useful nutrients except a lot of sodium.
2 studiesDry sazon blend (coriander and annatto). Not pure annatto seed, paste…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
USDA lists a dry sazon seasoning of coriander and annatto at 0 kcal, 0 g protein, 0 g fat, 0 g carbohydrate, 0 g fibre, 0 mg calcium, 0 mg iron and 0 mg vitamin C per 100 g, with 17,000 mg sodium per 100 g. That works out to about 170 mg of sodium in each gram of the blend.
Results
For the blend, nutrition is essentially zero apart from sodium. For plain annatto seed no USDA values exist.
Effect sizes as reported
Per 100 g of the blend: 17,000 mg sodium.
Why this rating
High that the USDA record says this; it is a nutrient fact, not a health benefit. It describes a seasoning blend, not pure annatto.
Form and dose studied
Dry sazon blend (coriander and annatto). Not pure annatto seed, paste or colour.
Who was studied
Anyone cooking with annatto blends.
Limits
USDA data from 2019. Real blends vary, and many contain salt, MSG and other seasonings.
Why researchers looked
People ask whether annatto adds vitamins or minerals.
Traditional use
Used to colour rice, meats, stews, sauces and cheese.
Proposed mechanism Authoritative database
The coloured coating of the seed holds the pigments bixin and norbixin. The pigments are not turned into vitamin A, according to the Wikipedia article, a secondary source.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
If you watch your sodium, read the label of blends such as sazon.
Connections to the rest of health
How Annatto (achiote) connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
A. Wellness goals
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cholesterol Balance | Low certainty | Blood fats and heart-risk markers (annatto-enriched eggs, one trial): One trial gave healthy adults two eggs a day, or two eggs with annatto, for 8 weeks. Blood fats did not change in either group. No benefit was shown, and no harm was seen in these markers. | 2 |
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular System | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Blood fats and heart-risk markers (annatto-enriched eggs, one trial) | 2 |
| Digestive System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Feeling full after meals (annatto-enriched eggs, same trial) Studied for: Safety of annatto food colour (a regulatory finding, not a health benefit) | 3 6 7 9 11 |
| Whole Body | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other effects of bixin (lab and animal research) | 4 |
C. Body parts and organs
E. Health conditions
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaphylaxis | Adverse effect or risk | Documented risk | One adult case report with severe low blood pressure within 20 minutes. Preparation or compound: Annatto food colour |
1 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood fats (triglycerides, LDL, HDL) after annatto-enriched eggs | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 2 |
| Ghrelin (hunger hormone) after annatto-enriched eggs | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 3 |
K. Biological pathways
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bixin | Preliminary mechanism | Lab and animal | Main pigment; subject of the lab review. | 4 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bixin | Biological association | Lab and animal | Gives the orange-red colour. Lab and animal studies report antioxidant and other effects; no human trial of bixin was read. Preparation or compound: Waxy coating of the seed |
11 4 |
| Norbixin | Biological association | Regulatory | Yellower colour. EFSA set a daily limit for norbixin separately from bixin. Preparation or compound: Made from bixin by saponification |
11 7 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 26, 2026).
Evidence at a glance: what changed in 2 lab markers
Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.
The evidence
The research centre for Annatto (achiote). Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We started from our existing annatto summary, re-checked the four PubMed papers, read the EFSA 2017 and 2019 opinions, the allergy letter, US food colour rules and USDA data. Research on annatto is thin, so this page is smaller than others. Gaps are listed above.
Study library: every study we checked 11
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| p1994783 Anaphylaxis to annatto dye: a case report (Ann Allergy 1991) · Source |
Case report Human (one adult patient) |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| p36678239 Consumption of Eggs Alone or Enriched with Annatto (Bixa orellana L.) Does Not Increase Cardiovascular Risk in Healthy Adults: the EGGANT Study (Nutrients 2023) · Source |
Randomized controlled trial Humans (105 healthy adults, Colombia) |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| p38472844 Annatto-Enriched Egg Improves the Perception of Satiety in Healthy Adults: Randomized Clinical Trial, EGGANT Study (Foods 2024) · Source |
Randomized controlled trial Humans (105 healthy adults, Colombia) |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| p41710583 Bixin Beyond Colour: Expanding Therapeutic Horizons Through the Integration of Pharmacological Potential with Modern Drug Design and Delivery Strategies (Drug Des Devel Ther 2026) · Source |
Narrative review Bixin (purified pigment); lab and animal systems |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| s-ecfr-73-30 US eCFR, 21 CFR 73.30: Annatto extract · Source |
Regulation n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-efsa-2017 EFSA: Exposure assessment of annatto colouring principles bixin and norbixin (E 160b) when used as food additives (EFSA Journal 2017) · Source |
Regulatory opinion n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-efsa-2019 EFSA: Safety of annatto E and the exposure to the annatto colouring principles bixin and norbixin (E 160b) when used as a food additive (EFSA Journal 2019) · Source |
Regulatory opinion n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-gbif-bixa-orellana GBIF Backbone: Bixa orellana L. (usageKey 2874863) · Source |
Reference database n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-usda-fdc-172242 USDA FoodData Central: Seasoning mix, dry, sazon, coriander and annatto (FDC 172242) · Source |
Reference database n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-waoj-2009 Myles IA, Beakes D. An allergy to goldfish? Highlighting labeling laws for food additives (World Allergy Organ J 2009) · Source |
Case report Human (one 2-year-old child) |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-wikipedia-annatto Wikipedia: Annatto (read through the Wikipedia API) · Source |
Secondary source n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text |
What we do not know yet
- No human trial of annatto seed, paste or powder as a spice was found.
- The only trial tested annatto mixed into eggs; the satiety paper was read as an abstract only.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and drug interactions were not covered by any source read.
- Allergy frequency is unknown; only case reports exist.
- Culinary and history facts rest on Wikipedia, a secondary source.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue before the page changes.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Other 2
Blood fats (triglycerides, LDL, HDL) after annatto-enriched eggs
No clear change in trials
Fats and cholesterol-carrying particles measured in a blood sample.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
They are standard markers of heart-disease risk.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Null result in healthy adults.
Safety implication
No adverse change in these markers was reported.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | No significant change in triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1 or B over 8 weeks in any group. | 105 healthy adults, Colombia | Two eggs a day, two eggs with annatto, or two egg whites |
Ghrelin (hunger hormone) after annatto-enriched eggs
No clear change in trials
A hormone linked to hunger, measured in blood.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
It is an objective marker of appetite.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
The objective marker did not support the self-reported fullness.
Safety implication
None.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | No significant change in ghrelin in any group. | 105 healthy adults, Colombia | Two eggs a day, two eggs with annatto, or two egg whites |
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 3
- Annatto allergy is rare, but it is documented and can be serious. Case reports describe hives, swelling and, in one adult, a severe drop in blood pressure within 20 minutes of milk and cereal that contained annatto dye. A 2-year-old child had repeated hives and lip swelling that were traced by comparing food labels to annatto in orange-coloured crackers. If you have had unexplained reactions to orange cheese, snacks or cereal, an allergy doctor can look into annatto. Case report 1 10
- Labels may not make annatto easy to spot. In the US, natural annatto used as a colour can be listed only as "color added". In Europe food colours must be labelled. Checking can be hard in the US. Case report 10
- Cooking with annatto is a long-standing food use; the colour additive has official daily limits. EFSA set daily intake limits for the annatto pigments bixin and norbixin and found no gene-damage concern for annatto E. These limits are for the food colour, not for the spice in a recipe. Authoritative guidance 7
Side effects 2
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allergic reaction: hives, swelling of lips or face Only a few cases are described; no frequency was found. Skin tests were positive in one adult and negative in other patients with immediate reactions, so a skin test may not settle the question. | Not established | Mild to serious in case reports Not stated | Case report 10 1 |
| Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) with severe low blood pressure One adult patient. The authors suggest leftover seed protein in the dye as the trigger. | Not established | Severe Not stated | Case report 1 |
Liver
No liver injury from annatto as a food was found in the sources read. LiverTox was not searched.
How often. No frequency was found.
Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice was found.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Annatto (achiote) supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 2
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prescription medicines prescription | No interaction between annatto as a food or colour and any medicine was found in the sources read. That is absence of evidence, not proof of none. | Not found Not enough evidence | Ask a pharmacist or doctor if you take regular medicines and plan to use concentrated annatto or bixin supplements. | |
| Herbal products and supplements supplement | No interaction was found in the sources read; concentrated bixin products were not studied for interactions. | Not found Not enough evidence | Tell your pharmacist about all products you take. |
Who should check first 1
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. No toxicity from annatto in cooking was found in the sources read. EFSA derived daily limits for the pigments from toxicology data it reviewed; the underlying animal studies were not read for this page.
Animal. Not read.
High dose or long term signals. Modelled norbixin intake from colour at maximum proposed uses could reach the daily limit for toddlers and children at the 95th percentile; EFSA judged the exposure estimates very likely overestimates and saw no health concern.
Overdose response. Not found.
Genotoxicity. EFSA 2019: annatto E does not raise concern for genotoxicity, after a new study cleared up an earlier comet assay concern.
For annatto extract used as a colour, US rules cap arsenic and lead. Contaminants in whole seeds and pastes were not researched.
Heavy metals in annatto extract (US colour rule). US rules limit annatto extract to not more than 3 parts per million arsenic and 10 parts per million lead, and set limits on solvent residues. Batches are exempt from certification. The label must show the colour comes from annatto seed. 5
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (EU) (European Union) | 2019 opinion: annatto E does not raise concern for genotoxicity; daily limits for bixin and norbixin apply to it. Exposure estimates for toddlers and children were judged very likely overestimates and not a health concern. source | 2019 |
| EFSA (EU) (European Union) | 2017 statement on exposure: modelled norbixin intake could reach the limit at the 95th percentile for toddlers and children at proposed maximum uses; some of this came from overestimating unripened cheese. source | 2017 |
| US FDA (via eCFR) (United States) | Annatto extract is a listed colour additive, exempt from batch certification, with limits on arsenic (3 ppm) and lead (10 ppm). The label must show the colour is derived from annatto seed. source | 2024-01-01 |
When to get medical help
- Trouble breathing, a tight throat, or swelling of the lips, face or tongue after eating
- Widespread hives, dizziness, faintness or a racing heart after eating (possible anaphylaxis) - call emergency services
- Repeated hives or swelling after orange-coloured cheese, snacks or cereal
Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is annatto?
Is annatto the same as achiote?
Yes. Achiote is the Spanish name for the tree and its seeds. Annatto is the usual English name.
What does annatto taste like?
Mild. Wikipedia describes it as earthy, sweet and slightly peppery. It adds more colour than taste.
Does annatto have health benefits?
Does annatto lower cholesterol?
No benefit was shown. In one trial of healthy adults, eggs with annatto did not change LDL, HDL or triglycerides over 8 weeks.
Does annatto make you feel full?
In one trial, people eating annatto-enriched eggs reported feeling fuller, but the objective hunger hormone did not change. The authors call it a tendency, and it needs more study.
Is annatto an antioxidant?
Purified bixin is described as an antioxidant in lab and animal work. This has not been shown for annatto eaten as food.
Can you be allergic to annatto?
Is annatto in the same food colour used in cheese?
Is annatto food colour safe?
Is annatto safe in pregnancy or for children?
Does annatto interact with medicines?
The sources we read describe no interaction, but that is not proof of none. Ask a pharmacist if you take regular medicines and plan to use annatto or bixin supplements.
Explore by health goal
Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against the sources listed.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-26
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-26
- How we research
- We started from our existing annatto summary, re-checked the four PubMed papers, read the EFSA 2017 and 2019 opinions, the allergy letter, US food colour rules and USDA data. Research on annatto is thin, so this page is smaller than others. Gaps are listed above.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown.
Sources 11
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- . Anaphylaxis to annatto dye: a case report (Ann Allergy 1991). . . (abstract)
- . Consumption of Eggs Alone or Enriched with Annatto (Bixa orellana L.) Does Not Increase Cardiovascular Risk in Healthy Adults: the EGGANT Study (Nutrients 2023). . . (full-text)
- . Annatto-Enriched Egg Improves the Perception of Satiety in Healthy Adults: Randomized Clinical Trial, EGGANT Study (Foods 2024). . . (abstract)
- . Bixin Beyond Colour: Expanding Therapeutic Horizons Through the Integration of Pharmacological Potential with Modern Drug Design and Delivery Strategies (Drug Des Devel Ther 2026). . . (abstract)
- . US eCFR, 21 CFR 73.30: Annatto extract. . . (full-text)
- . EFSA: Exposure assessment of annatto colouring principles bixin and norbixin (E 160b) when used as food additives (EFSA Journal 2017). . . (full-text)
- . EFSA: Safety of annatto E and the exposure to the annatto colouring principles bixin and norbixin (E 160b) when used as a food additive (EFSA Journal 2019). . . (full-text)
- . GBIF Backbone: Bixa orellana L. (usageKey 2874863). . . (full-text)
- . USDA FoodData Central: Seasoning mix, dry, sazon, coriander and annatto (FDC 172242). . . (full-text)
- . Myles IA, Beakes D. An allergy to goldfish? Highlighting labeling laws for food additives (World Allergy Organ J 2009). . . (full-text)
- . Wikipedia: Annatto (read through the Wikipedia API). . . (full-text)
Where to buy
Check the label first. Whatever you buy, look for these:
- Whole or ground: whole spices keep their flavor longer
- The origin and a packed-on or best-by date for freshness
- Organic or non-irradiated labeling if that matters to you
- A resealable, airtight container
Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before you start any supplement, especially if you take medicines. See the Safety tab for interactions.
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