Annatto (achiote): Flavor, Cooking Use and Health Facts
Annatto is mild, earthy and a little peppery and is used mostly to turn food orange-red; allergy to it is rare but documented, and there is no good evidence of a health benefit from eating it.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
In the kitchen at a glance
Flavor:EarthySweet
Aroma: Faint and earthy, with a light peppery note.
Used in: grilling and rubs, soups and stews
Usual amount in food: No usual recipe amount found; USDA has no entry for annatto seed (its sazón blend lists 1 g per 1/4 teaspoon).
What it is
Annatto comes from the achiote tree, Bixa orellana, thought to come from tropical regions between Mexico and Brazil. [1] The color is in a reddish, waxy coating on the seeds. [1] The seeds are sold whole, ground, or mixed into pastes. The same seeds are also the source of a food color used in cheese, ice cream, margarine and baked goods. [1]Flavor and aroma
As a spice, annatto is mild. Sources describe it as earthy, sweet and slightly peppery. [1] It adds more color than taste, and our sources do not describe its smell in detail.The color comes from two pigments, bixin and norbixin. Bixin dissolves in fat, which is why annatto is often steeped in oil or lard. Norbixin dissolves in water. More norbixin gives a yellower color; more bixin gives a more orange one. [1] Unlike beta-carotene, these pigments are not turned into vitamin A. [1]
How it is used in cooking
Cooks use annatto as a paste or powder, or they pull the color out with hot water, oil or lard. [1]- Yucatán and Belize: recado rojo, a red-orange paste of ground annatto with garlic, oregano, cumin, clove and other spices, ground with sour orange juice or vinegar. It is a rub or marinade for meat, poultry and fish, used in cochinita pibil and pollo pibil, and it can be mixed into masa for red tamales. [1][2]
- Puerto Rico: annatto is simmered in oil, and it appears in pasteles and in sazón seasoning. [1]
- Venezuela: hallacas and huevos pericos. [1]
- Philippines: the sauce for pancit palabok. [1]
- Cheese: makers used it to give winter cheese the richer color of summer cheese. Red Leicester, Cheshire and Gloucester are among the cheeses that use it. [1]
The sources we read do not say when to add it, whether to toast the seeds, or what to use instead. Historically, cheesemakers used saffron, marigold and carrot juice for color. [1] Because annatto adds little flavor, any swap will change the taste.
Normal food amounts
USDA SR Legacy has no entry for annatto seed or ground annatto. [11] The nearest record is a dry sazón seasoning of coriander and annatto, which is a salty blend, not pure annatto.| Measure | Grams | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon, ground annatto | Not available | USDA SR Legacy has no entry |
| 1/4 teaspoon, sazón blend (coriander and annatto) | 1 g | USDA [11] |
| Typical recipe amount | Not found | We opened no source that states one |
For that sazón blend, USDA lists about 17,000 mg of sodium per 100 g, so a 1 g portion has about 170 mg of sodium. [11] It lists zero for fiber, iron, calcium and vitamin C. We give no nutrient figures for pure annatto because we found none. The USDA data are from 2018, and real products vary.
Buying, storing and preparing
- Forms: whole seeds, ground seed, pastes, and seasoning blends. Food makers also use liquid and powder extracts for color. [1][7]
- Check blends: some blends, such as sazón, are mostly salt and other seasonings. Read the label if you watch sodium. [11]
- Color extracts: in the US, annatto extract is a color additive exempt from batch certification. The rule limits arsenic to 3 ppm and lead to 10 ppm, and labels must show the color comes from annatto seed. [7]
- Shelf life and storage: the sources we read give no shelf life, no grinding advice and no quality test, so we give none.
Health: what research says
Eating annatto in cooking is very different from taking concentrated bixin or norbixin. Almost all the research on annatto is on the pigments or on lab models.Food amounts vs supplements
| In normal cooking | In supplements and extracts | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical amount | No usual recipe amount found [11] | No official supplement amount found |
| What studies mostly used | Almost no studies of annatto as a spice | Lab and animal work on bixin; one human trial used annatto-enriched eggs [8][9][10] |
| What we can say about benefit | No good evidence of benefit | The 2026 review says clinical use is limited by poor absorption and stability [10] |
| Main safety limit | Rare allergy [5][6] | EU daily limits exist for the color pigments [3][4] |
What the evidence shows
| Use | What the sources found | Strength of evidence | Form and population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood fats and heart-risk markers | In 105 healthy adults, two eggs a day with or without annatto for 8 weeks caused no significant changes in triglycerides, LDL or HDL. [8] | No good evidence of benefit | Annatto-enriched eggs; healthy Colombian adults [8] |
| Feeling full | Same trial: a reported rise in felt fullness in the annatto-egg group; the objective marker ghrelin did not change. The authors call it a trend. [9] | Insufficient evidence | Annatto-enriched eggs; healthy adults [9] |
| Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, brain, liver and other effects | A 2026 review describes these effects of bixin in lab models and says clinical use is limited by solubility, stability and absorption. [10] | Lab or animal only | Purified bixin; lab models [10] |
| Safety of the color | EFSA set daily limits for bixin and norbixin and found no genotoxicity concern for annatto E. [3][4] | Established | Food colors; whole population [3][4] |
| Allergic reaction | Case reports of hives, swelling and anaphylaxis after annatto-colored foods. [5][6] | Established as a rare risk | Food color; individual patients [5][6] |
Official statements
- EFSA (EU), 2017 and 2019: acceptable daily intake of 6 mg per kg of body weight for bixin and 0.3 mg per kg for norbixin. The 2019 opinion found that annatto E raises no genotoxicity concern and that the ADIs apply to it; exposure estimates were likely overestimates. [3][4]
- FDA (US): annatto extract is a listed color additive, exempt from certification, with limits for arsenic and lead. [7]
- EMA, NCCIH, WHO/JECFA: we did not open a page for annatto from these bodies.
Related pages
Health connections for Annatto (achiote)
What research links to this spice, and how strong the evidence is. Most studies use concentrated extracts or doses far above what you eat; each card says which.
Safety of annatto food color (daily limits set)
Clinically supportedEFSA set daily intake limits for the annatto pigments bixin and norbixin and found no genotoxicity concern for annatto E.
Supplements: Regulatory finding about the color additive, not a health benefit. No supplement benefit is claimed.
Blood fats and heart-risk markers
Preliminary or mixedIn healthy adults, two eggs a day with or without annatto for 8 weeks did not change blood fats; no benefit was shown.
Supplements: Food-based trial (eggs), not a supplement; null result, no benefit shown.
Feeling full after meals
Preliminary or mixedIn the same trial, people eating annatto-enriched eggs reported feeling fuller, but the hormone marker ghrelin did not change. The authors call it a trend.
Supplements: Food-based trial with enriched eggs; not shown for spice amounts or supplements.
Antioxidant and other effects of bixin
Lab or animal research onlyA 2026 review describes antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other effects of purified bixin in lab models.
Supplements: Lab or animal findings on a purified pigment only; no human evidence for food or supplement amounts.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (1)
- Cholesterol BalancePreliminary or mixed
A trial of annatto-enriched eggs found no change in LDL, HDL or triglycerides; no benefit is shown.
Body systems (2)
- Immune SupportDocumented risk
Annatto can rarely trigger allergic reactions, including hives and anaphylaxis, in case reports.
- Immune SystemDocumented risk
Annatto can rarely trigger allergic reactions, including hives and anaphylaxis, in case reports.
Body parts (2)
- Blood VesselsDocumented risk
In the 1991 case report, severe low blood pressure occurred during anaphylaxis to annatto dye.
- SkinDocumented risk
Hives and swelling are the usual skin signs in annatto allergy case reports.
Functional actions (1)
- AntioxidantLab or animal research only
Antioxidant activity of purified bixin is described in lab models only; clinical use is limited by absorption. No human benefit from eating annatto is shown.
Biomarkers (3)
- HDL CholesterolPreliminary or mixed
No significant change in HDL after 8 weeks of annatto-enriched eggs in healthy adults.
- LDL CholesterolPreliminary or mixed
No significant change in LDL after 8 weeks of annatto-enriched eggs in healthy adults.
- TriglyceridesPreliminary or mixed
No significant change in triglycerides after 8 weeks of annatto-enriched eggs in healthy adults.
Conditions & symptoms (3)
- Food AllergyDocumented risk
Annatto is a rare cause of food allergy in case reports; it is not on EFSA's common allergen list.
- AnaphylaxisDocumented risk
A 1991 case report described anaphylaxis within 20 minutes of annatto-colored milk and cereal.
- UrticariaDocumented risk
Hives were reported in annatto allergy cases, including a toddler and an adult.
Documented risks and interactions (3)
- Allergic reaction (rare). Case reports describe hives, swelling and anaphylaxis after annatto-colored foods.
- Higher pigment intake in toddlers and children (modelled). EFSA's 2017 modelling found norbixin intake could pass its daily limit at the 95th percentile in toddlers and children at maximum use levels. In 2019 EFSA judged the estimates to be overestimates and saw no health concern.
- Heavy-metal limits in annatto extract. US rules limit arsenic to 3 ppm and lead to 10 ppm in annatto extract.
Frequently asked questions
Is annatto sweet or hot?
Neither much. Sources call it mild, earthy, a little sweet and slightly peppery. [1] Most people use it for color.
How much is normal?
We found no source that gives a usual recipe amount, and USDA has no record for annatto seed. [11] Follow the recipe or the paste label.
Is it safe in pregnancy?
The sources we read do not describe pregnancy safety. Cooking amounts are traditional in many cuisines, but ask your midwife or doctor, especially about supplements.
Can I take it with medicines?
The sources we read do not describe any interaction. If you take regular medicines and plan to use annatto supplements, ask a pharmacist.
Can I be allergic to annatto?
Yes, though it is rare. There are case reports of hives, swelling and anaphylaxis after annatto-colored foods. [5][6] See an allergy doctor if you suspect it.
Is annatto the same as the color in cheese?
Yes, the color comes from the same seeds. Makers use extracts of bixin and norbixin. [1][7]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety note at a glance
Safety in more detail
- Medicines: the sources we read do not describe any drug interaction.
- Pregnancy: the sources we read do not describe pregnancy safety. Food amounts are common in many cuisines; ask your midwife or doctor about supplements.
- Breastfeeding: the sources we read do not describe breastfeeding.
- Children: a toddler's recurring hives and lip swelling were linked to annatto-colored crackers in one letter. [5] EFSA found that, at the highest proposed use levels, norbixin intake could pass the daily limit for toddlers and children at the 95th percentile. [3] Later, EFSA judged the estimates to be overestimates and saw no health concern. [4]
- Allergy: a man had hives, swelling and severe low blood pressure within 20 minutes of milk and cereal containing annatto. A skin test to the dye was strongly positive, and his antibodies bound a protein near 50 kD, which may be a leftover seed protein. [6] Skin tests give inconsistent results: others with immediate reactions tested negative. [5] Only natural annatto has been documented as allergenic. [5] In the US, a label may say only "color added" for natural annatto, so it can be hard to spot. [5]
- Liver and kidney: the sources we read do not describe liver or kidney problems.
- Surgery: the sources we read do not describe a surgery warning.
- Quality and contamination: US rules limit arsenic and lead in annatto extract. [7] We found no source on contamination of seeds or pastes.
- Amounts that cause trouble: no cooking amount is described as harmful in the sources we read. EFSA's limits are for the pigments, not the spice. [3][4]
References
- Wikipedia — Annatto (cites JECFA, CABI, FDA, EFSA and food-history sources). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annatto (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Wikipedia — Recado rojo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recado_rojo (accessed 2026-10-24)
- EFSA — Exposure assessment of annatto colouring principles bixin and norbixin (E 160b) when used as food additives. EFSA Journal 2017;15(8):e04966. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7009871/ (accessed 2026-10-24)
- 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. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7009150/ (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Myles IA, Beakes D — An allergy to goldfish? Highlighting labeling laws for food additives. World Allergy Organ J 2009;2(12):314–316. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2805955 (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Nish WA et al. — Anaphylaxis to annatto dye: a case report. Ann Allergy 1991;66(2):129–131; abstract read via Europe PMC. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1994783/ (accessed 2026-10-24)
- US eCFR via Cornell LII — 21 CFR 73.30, Annatto extract. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/73.30 (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Consumption of eggs alone or enriched with annatto does not increase cardiovascular risk in healthy adults, the EGGANT study. Nutrients 2023;15(2); abstract read via Europe PMC. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36678239/ (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Annatto-enriched egg improves the perception of satiety in healthy adults, the EGGANT study. Foods 2024;13(5); abstract read via Europe PMC. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38472844/ (accessed 2026-10-24)
- 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 read via Europe PMC. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41710583/ (accessed 2026-10-24)
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (April 2018) — Seasoning mix, dry, sazon, coriander and annatto (fdc_id 172242), from the site's USDA data file.