How we scored it
Whole colourant is a natural carotenoid (bixin/norbixin) seed extract; no synthetic fragment. 1.0.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.
Where it comes from
Extracted from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana) by oil or water/alkali extraction to yield the carotenoid pigments bixin and norbixin. No synthetic route is used commercially.
In plain English
A natural yellow-orange colourant extracted from achiote tree seeds. Used to tint cosmetics and personal care products without synthetic dyes.
References
- 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
- 2ANNATTO. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3Annatto. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=Annatto