E160b — Annatto
E160b (Annatto), a color, is rated "watch": fine in moderation. A natural orange-red color from achiote tree seeds. Used to color cheese, butter, and snacks. Causes occasional allergic reactions in sensitive people.
What is Annatto?
An orange-red color extracted from the seeds of the achiote tree, used in cheddar cheese, butter, snack foods, and cereal. "Bixin" is the oil-soluble form, "norbixin" the water-soluble.
What does it do to the body?
Most people tolerate it well. A small number have IgE-mediated allergic reactions ranging from hives to, very rarely, anaphylaxis. People allergic to other tree seeds may be more likely to react.
What regulators say
EFSA set separate acceptable daily intakes for bixin (6 mg) and norbixin (0.3 mg per kg of body weight per day) in 2016. The FDA approves it without restriction and treats it as a known allergen for labeling.
Risk rating: Watch
Mixed evidence or a specific concern (gut, allergy, or contested safety data). Not alarming, but worth keeping an eye on rather than eating without limit.
Source: EFSA — re-evaluation of annatto extracts (2016) ↗