INS 160(b) is annatto, an orange-red colour extracted from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana). On packs it is used to colour cheeses, butters, and bakery with a warm orange shade. It is generally vegan and is permitted by FSSAI for specified food categories.
INS 160(b) is annatto, an orange-red colour extracted from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana). On packs it is used to colour cheeses, butters, and bakery with a warm orange shade.
Brands use it because it gives a soft orange-yellow tone that suits dairy and bakery products. It is recognised as a natural colour, which carries a clean-label appeal even when synthetic colours are equally cheap.
INS 160(b) commonly shows up on Indian packets in these categories:
Annatto extracts are produced by extracting bixin and norbixin pigments from achiote tree seeds with solvents or oils. No animal product is used in its manufacture.
FSSAI: Permitted by FSSAI as a natural food colour under Schedule I of the FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011 for specified food categories with category-specific limits.
JECFA: Two separate ADIs assigned at the 67th JECFA (2006): 0-12 mg/kg bw for bixin (the oil-soluble form) and 0-0.6 mg/kg bw for norbixin (the water-soluble salt form), based on subchronic toxicity studies in rats.
On packets, in recipes, and in conversation, INS 160(b) is also called:
Last verified: 2026-04-29.