FOOD INTOLERANCE NETWORK
FACTSHEET
Annatto (160b)
Annatto orange-yellow colour is a vegetable dye made from the seed coat
of the tropical Annatto tree (bixa orellana). In
It is the only natural colour that has so far as been found to cause as
many adverse intolerance reactions as artificial colours and to affect more
consumers that artificial colours. It has also been associated with rare
allergic reactions.
Adverse reactions to annatto can include skin, gastrointestinal, airways
and central nervous system reactions.
Headaches, irritability and others
The Food Intolerance Network has received many complaints about this
additive, including headaches in adults and children, headbanging in young
children, and irritability, restlessness, inattention and sleep disturbance in
children and adults as well as the full range listed above plus arthritis.
Reactions to annatto can occur the same day but are more likely to be delayed
than reactions to artificial colours, and are therefore more difficult to
identify.
A safe alternative
Beta-carotene (160a) is a safe alternative. Although the adverse effects
of annatto are recognised by FSANZ, our national food standards authority,
their view is that betacarotene 160a is too difficult and expensive to use.
Since 160a is used widely all over
Research abstracts from the medical database
More people with urticaria reacted to annatto than to artificial colours
in this study:
Mikkelsen H and others Hypersensitivity reactions to food colours with
special reference to the natural colour annatto extract (butter colour). Arch
Toxicol Suppl 1978;(1):141-3
It is well known that synthetic food colours especially some azo dyes
can provoke hypersensitivity reactions such as urticaria, angioneurotic oedema,
and astma (Michaelsson and Juhlin, 1973, Granholt and Thune, 1975). Natural
food colours are scarcely investigated with respect to potential allergic
properties. Annatto extract, a commonly used food colour in edible fats e.g.
butter, has been tested in patients. Among 61 consecutive patients suffering
from chronic urticaria and/or angioneurotic oedema 56 patients were orally
provoked by annatto extract during elimination diet. Challenge was performed
with a dose equivalent to the amount used in 25 grammes of butter. Twenty six
per cent of the patients reacted to this colour 4 hours (SD: 2,6) after intake.
Similar challenges with synthetic dyes showed the following results: Tartrazine
11%, Sunset Yellow FCF 17%, Food Red 17 16%, Amaranth 9%, Ponceau 4 R 15%,
Erythrosine 12% and Brillant Blue FCF 14%. The present study indicates that
natural food colours may induce hypersensitivity reactions as frequent as
synthetic dyes.
Reactions to annatto are usually, but not always, non-IgE-mediated
intolerance reactions. This is an account of a rare allergic reaction.
Annatto dye is an orange-yellow food coloring extracted from the seeds
of the tree Bixa orellana. It is commonly used in cheeses, snack foods,
beverages, and cereals. Previously reported adverse reactions associated with
annatto dye have included urticaria and angioedema. We present a patient who
developed urticaria, angioedema, and severe hypotension within 20 minutes
following ingestion of milk and Fiber One cereal, which contained annatto dye …
The patient had a strong positive skin test to annatto dye … Annatto dye may
contain contaminating or residual seed proteins to which our patient developed
IgE hypersensitivity. Annatto dye is a potential rare cause of anaphylaxis.
The two following studies suggest a glycemic effect of annatto. Why
would we want this unnecessary colour in our foods when there is a safe
alternative?
Morrison EY and others Extraction of an hyperglycaemic principle from
the annatto (Bixa orellana), a medicinal plant in the
The red powdery extract from the seeds of the annatto, Bixa orellana, is
a well known food colouring. In an oil suspension it is used as a folk remedy
(bush tea) in the
Fernandes AC and others. Norbixin ingestion did not induce any
detectable DNA breakage in liver and kidney but caused a considerable
impairment in plasma glucose levels of rats and mice. J Nutr Biochem 2002
Jul;13(7):411-420
From the seeds of Bixa orellana are extracted the carotenoids bixin and
norbixin that have been widely used for coloring food. In this study, the
toxicity of norbixin, purified or not (annatto extract containing 50%
norbixin), was investigated in mice and rats after 21 days of ingestion through
drinking water …there was a remarkable effect of norbixin on the glycemia of
both rodent species. In rats, norbixin induced hyperglycemia that ranged from
26.9% (8.5 mg/kg norbixin, to 52.6% (74 mg/kg norbixin, P < 0.01) above
control levels. In mice, norbixin induced hypoglycemia that ranged from 14.4%
(0.8 mg/kg norbixin, P < 0.05) to 21.5% (66 mg/kg norbixin, P < 0.001)
below control levels. Rats and mice treated with annatto pigments showed
hyperinsulinemia and hypoinsulinemia, respectively indicating that pancreatic
beta-cells were functional. More studies should be performed to fully
understand of how species-related differences influences the biological fate of
norbixin.
Annatto is one of a number of food additives
found to cause adverse reactions Clarke L and others. The dietary management of
food allergy and food intolerance in children and adults. Australian Journal of
Nutrition and Dietetics 1996;53(3): page 92.
Some reader stories about annatto
[385]
160b: “anaphylactic reaction” to annnatto (January 2006)
I am a 30 year old Nurse living in the
[384]
160b: “rage and headbanging” from annatto (January 2006)
My daughter has been exhibiting rage and headbanging that has has
progressed over the last 9 months with many other symptoms . After I dsicovered
your website I eliminated annatto a week ago and the headbanging diminished but
has not disappeared. Annatto was in her vitamins and granola bars that she
consumed daily. It was also in many other items that she consumed such as ice
cream, Doritos, salad dressing. I am now
eliminating all additives you recommend to avoid. -
[383]
160b: “banging his head against a brick wall” (January 2006)
My son used to bang his head when he was little. He's 12 now and we are
doing the diet for his behaviour. After the annatto challenge he started
banging his head against a brick wall for about half an hour. When he stopped
he told us that he had a headache so bad that banging his head seemed to be the
only way to make it feel better. -
[562] Yellow addiction (May 2007)
My son was restless from
the day he was born. His paediatrician told me to not feed him dairy or wheat
and suggested I feed him meat and vegetables and fruit for the first year of
his life. When he was one, I decided to broaden his diet a bit and started
feeding him vanilla ice cream. I didn’t understand at the time, but he started
throwing the most awful tantrums and head banging. He became obsessed with the
colour yellow. He only wanted to wear yellow clothes, draw with yellow pencils
and chose toys that were yellow. My friends constantly commented on his yellow
addiction. I used to feed him corn and cheese omelettes for dinner with vanilla
ice cream and banana for dessert. I’d mix the banana in thoroughly so the ice
cream looked more yellow. It wasn’t until 18 months later that I started
learning about nasty food chemicals, and learned that annatto 160b natural
yellow colouring was causing a lot of problems. When we got together with other
mothers, he’d go straight for yellow food and always want yellow drinks. It was
a bit of a joke really. He’d choose yellow lollies over other colours and when
I asked him what colour he wanted his room painted, he of course said Yellow. I
stopped allowing him food with 160b in it, but still let him have it when he
went out. My friends thought I was over the top with food.
One day after meeting with
my friends, and my son eating their yellow food, he went off the rails. I
managed to get him into the car, (which is hard when they stiffen their bodies
like a board) and drove him to my friend’s house. He was screaming in his car
seat, Let me out, let me out and was struggling like crazy in his seat. We
drove up her driveway and my friend said Oh my god, what’s happened to
Liam? I explained this is what happens
when he eats bad food chemicals. It was only after this that she actually
believed me. I then became strict and totally eliminated it from his diet. His
headbanging stopped and his outrageous tantrums stopped also. I then realised
that his obsession with yellow was caused from an addiction to yellow food.
When I eliminated it from his diet, he began to choose other colours to wear.
He’d choose other coloured lunchboxes, drink bottles and hats. I’ve never heard
any other parent mention the colour phenomenon, but I still believe it was
connected to his addiction to 160b. – Helen, NSW (similar stories to suedengate@ozemail.com.au please)
[584]
160b: ‘Croup cough’ from annatto (see also Annatto factsheet)
(November 2007)
My four-year-old son has peanut, egg and dairy
allergies and is anaphylactic so as you can imagine I spend hours reading
labels. We have been buying So-Good products for about two years and generally
he is fine. Recently he has been having the creamy vanilla for dessert and
having what I thought was a croup cough. I soon realised the nights he didn't
have it there was no "croup cough". After several calls to Sanitarium
and speaking with the dietician, I have worked out that it must be the annatto
E160b causing a reaction. – by email
[583]
160b: Head banging and annatto (see also Annatto factsheet)
(November 2007)
Just thought I would let you know, after your
recent talk in Maitland I went back to work and told a friend about annatto
160b as her two-year-old daughter had been splitting her head open head
banging. My friend has kept her daughter off the annatto for a week now and her
daughter has stopped head banging. She still gets in the position when she is
throwing a tantrum but doesn't bang her head. Amazing! This is only additive
she has removed! – by email, NSW
What you can do
In a 25 year review of diet and behaviour (www.cspinet.org),
scientists from the Centre for Science in the Public Interest concluded that:
"The obvious public
health response would be to remove the irritants, if possible, from the foods
that children eat."
The answer is clear: REFUSE TO BUY! And tell the food companies
of your decision.
The
information given is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your doctor
for underlying illness. Before beginning dietary investigation, consult a
dietician with an interest in food intolerance. You can find a supportive
dietitian through the Dietitians Association of
© Sue Dengate update January
2006
