Is annatto vegan?

Annatto is a natural food coloring and condiment derived from the seeds of the achiote tree, a plant native to tropical regions of the Americas. Manufacturers produce it by extracting the carotenoid pigments, primarily bixin and norbixin, from the outer seed coat using water, edible vegetable oils, or alkaline solutions. It is widely used to impart yellow, orange, or reddish hues to foods such as plant-based cheeses, margarines, crackers, snack foods, breakfast cereals, and baked goods.

Annatto is considered vegan because it is exclusively of plant origin and contains no animal ingredients. The production process isolates the natural dye directly from botanical seeds without the use of animal-derived processing aids or carrier agents. Consequently, items containing annatto are suitable for a vegan diet unless other non-vegan ingredients are present in the finished product.