E160b Annatto, bixin, norbixin — is it halal?

Ruling: Mashbuh (doubtful)

Description

Yellow-orange colour from the waxy coating (aril) of the seeds of the annatto tree Bixa orellana. The feedstock is always plant-derived; the pigment is abraded off the seeds in aqueous alkali (KOH/NaOH), vegetable oil or organic solvents (acetone, methanol, hexane, ethanol, isopropanol, ethyl acetate, CO2). Alkaline hydrolysis converts bixin to norbixin. Since 2021 the EU has five sub-classes: E160b(i)

Basis of the ruling

Annatto is a yellow-orange colour from the seed coat of the annatto tree; the raw material is plant-based. The pigment is removed from the seeds with aqueous alkali, vegetable oil or organic solvents. The solvent method uses ethanol and "alkaline alcohol", whose source is not stated.

Names: Аннато · Annatto, bixin, norbixin · أناتو (بيكسين، نوربيكسين)

Also known as: бета-каротин, смешанные каротины, beta-carotene, mixed carotenes, CI Food Orange 5, E160a(i), E160a(ii), E160a(iii), E160a(iv), بيتا كاروتين, аннатто, экстракт аннато, биксин, норбиксин, annatto

Category: Colours

Regulatory source: EU 1333/2008

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