Annatto is widely used as a coloring agent in many processed food products, such as cheeses, dairy spreads, butter and margarine, custards, cakes and other baked goods, potatoes, snack foods, breakfast cereals, smoked fish, sausages, and more. In these uses, annatto is a natural alternative to synthetic food coloring compounds. Annatto is of particular commercial value in the United States because the Food and Drug Administration considers colorants derived from it to be “exempt of certification”. It is often used to impart a yellow or orange color to foods