Annatto
Annatto is a yellow to orange color extracted from the seed coat of the achiote tree, Bixa orellana. The main pigment is bixin, which is oil-soluble; alkaline extraction converts it to norbixin, which is water-soluble. Suppliers sell standardized liquids, suspensions, emulsions and powders labeled by percent bixin or norbixin, used in cheese, butter, snacks, bakery and cereal.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Water-soluble alkaline solution standardized to a stated norbixin content, common in cheese, dairy and cereal.
Oil-soluble suspension or solution of bixin in vegetable oil for butter, margarine, snacks and fat-based coatings.
Emulsified or encapsulated grades that resist precipitating in acidic foods and beverages.
Spray-dried norbixin or bixin on a carrier such as maltodextrin or gum arabic for dry mixes and seasonings.
Annatto from organic seed extracted with permitted solvents, offered by fewer suppliers.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Keep sealed, cool and away from light; annatto pigments fade with light and oxygen, and oil suspensions should be stirred before use because they settle. Norbixin solutions should not freeze. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, with a retest of color strength the usual way to extend aged stock.
Color strength and hue vary with seed origin and crop, so record bixin or norbixin percent for each lot and adjust dose. Rotate stock first-expired, first-out, since color strength drops with age.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 73.30 lists annatto extract, made from annatto seed (Bixa orellana L.), as a color additive for coloring foods generally, exempt from certification.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 73.30 limits arsenic to 3 ppm and lead to 10 ppm in annatto extract.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)Under 21 CFR 73.30, labels of the color additive must show that the color is derived from annatto seed.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's List of Permitted Colouring Agents includes annatto (item A.5).
Source: canada.ca (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Manufacturer · Kalamazoo, MI
US maker of natural food colors, spice and herb extracts, hop products and rosemary extracts for shelf life, working from its own paprika supply through to finished extracts.
Manufacturer · St. Louis, MO
North American food color business of Sensient Technologies, making certified FD&C dyes and lakes alongside natural colors from sources such as beet juice, carmine, annatto, spirulina and butterfly pea flower.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include norbixin solution, bixin in oil, acid-proof emulsion, powder and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect color strength, residual solvents, heavy metals, pH and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Keep sealed, cool and away from light; annatto pigments fade with light and oxygen, and oil suspensions should be stirred before use because they settle. Norbixin solutions should not freeze. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, with a retest of color strength the usual way to extend aged stock.
21 CFR 73.30 lists annatto extract, made from annatto seed (Bixa orellana L.), as a color additive for coloring foods generally, exempt from certification. 21 CFR 73.30 limits arsenic to 3 ppm and lead to 10 ppm in annatto extract. Under 21 CFR 73.30, labels of the color additive must show that the color is derived from annatto seed. Health Canada's List of Permitted Colouring Agents includes annatto (item A.5).
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