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
