Did you know?

Did You Know Annatto Is a Hidden Colour Culprit?

Annatto (E160b) is a natural orange colour that turns up in cheese, butter and snacks, and quietly triggers hives in some people. Where it hides, and how to spot it.

Clip coming soon

The quick version

When people think “food colours and skin”, they picture bright synthetic sweets. But annatto (E160b), a natural yellow-orange colour from the achiote seed, is a quieter culprit. It is the reason a cheese like Red Leicester is orange, and it is a recognised, if uncommon, trigger of hives and swelling.

Why it matters

Annatto hides in everyday, “wholesome” foods rather than obvious treats, coloured cheeses, butter, custards, snacks and smoked fish, so it slips past people who are only watching out for synthetic dyes. And being “natural”, it tends to get a free pass it does not always deserve.

What to do

If colours flare your skin, add annatto (E160b, also “bixin” or “norbixin”) to your watch list alongside the synthetic dyes, and check cheese and dairy labels in particular. Uncoloured versions of the same products make an easy test swap.

A short video clip on this is coming soon.

Check it against your own list

A free database like Open Food Facts and Fig give broad ingredient information rather than a check against your own skin. A personal-list app like ClearaScan lets you save annatto (and your other triggers) once and scan any product, food, medication or cosmetic, against your ingredient guard list, flagging only yours. Its Reaction Journal lets you tie a flare back to the product, a shared Care Circle lets family scan for you, and a Trusted Products list keeps what you have cleared. It is currently in early access. (Disclosure: our editor co-founded ClearaScan, and we are not paid to mention the others.)

More like this

Did You Know Azo Dyes Were Reduced After One Study?

The 2007 Southampton study on food colours and children's behaviour led to a UK warning label and prompted many brands to drop azo dyes. What it found, and what it means for you.

Did You Know Benzoates Lurk in Fizzy Drinks?

Benzoate preservatives are common in fizzy drinks and squashes, and they are a recognised aggravator of chronic hives. Why acidic drinks are the usual hiding place, and the easy swaps.

Did you know clear nail varnish can stop a nickel rash?

If a jeans button or watch back leaves an itchy mark, a coat of clear nail varnish creates a quick barrier between the metal and your skin. The trick, and its limits.

Did you know dermatologists pick 'fragrance-free' over 'unscented' for eczema?

It is a small wording difference with a real impact for sensitive and children's skin. Why dermatologists are specific about 'fragrance-free', and how to check a label lives up to it.

A note on this content. The Sensitive Skin Lab publishes general educational information, not medical advice. If you suspect you have an allergy or sensitivity, consult a qualified dermatologist or allergist. Product formulations and labels change without notice, so always check the ingredients on the product itself.