Annatto dye is a natural food colorant obtained from the seeds of Bixa orellana. It contains pigments such as bixin and norbixin, which impart yellow to orange red color to food products. The dye is widely valued as a safe and natural alternative to synthetic food colors. Due to its plant origin and good coloring ability, annatto is extensively used in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

A safe and convenient food colourant, annatto is one of the oldest colours known to man. The preparation of annatto dye involves cleaning and drying annatto seeds, followed by extraction of pigments using water, oil, or alkaline solutions. The extracted pigments are filtered, concentrated, and converted into powder or liquid color formulations. Annatto dye is commonly used in cheese, butter, margarine, bakery products, snacks, beverages, and confectionery to enhance visual appeal and product quality.

Annatto dye offers several advantages including natural origin, consumer acceptance, and good coloring properties. It is non toxic and biodegradable, making it a safer alternative to synthetic dyes. The pigment provides stable yellow to orange coloration in many food systems and can be applied in both oil soluble and water soluble forms. Additionally, annatto production supports sustainable agriculture and plant-based food additives.