Annatto is the orange in a lot of cheddar and snack dust. It comes from a seed, so on the vegan test it is a clear pass, even when the food around it is not.
Made fromAchiote (annatto) seeds
E numberE160b
VerdictVegan
Where it hides
Orange cheeses and butters
Snacks and crackers
Smoked fish and margarine
Rice and Latin American dishes
What it is
Annatto is the deep orange colour pressed from the seeds of a tropical tree, used for centuries as both dye and seasoning.
Primary source 01 / 01
Annatto ( or ) is an orange-red condiment and food coloring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana), native to tropical parts of the Americas.
The colour itself is a plant seed extract and is vegan. Worth remembering, though, that annatto often colours foods that are not vegan, like cheddar and butter, so the colour passing the test does not mean the product does.
Beta-carotene (E160a)Beta-carotene is the orange in carrots, bottled as a colour and a supplement. The pigment is plant or lab-made; the only animal risk is the capsule it sometimes rides in.
Caramel colour (E150)Caramel colour is burnt sugar, more or less, the brown in cola and gravy browning. It is almost always vegan, with a rare footnote about the sugar it starts from.
Carmine and cochineal (E120)That bright natural red in the yogurt or the candy is often crushed insects. Carmine, cochineal extract, Natural Red 4, E120: all the same animal dye.
Frequently asked
Is E160b vegan?
Yes. E160b is annatto, a colouring from achiote seeds, so it is plant-based and vegan.
Why is annatto in cheese?
It gives many cheddars and other cheeses their orange colour. The annatto is vegan, but the cheese usually is not.
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