[1641] 160b: Annatto allergy with "large painful pimples" on face (August 2022)

I first became aware that annatto was a problem when I was in my thirties. I have always had sensitive skin but really couldn’t understand why I was still getting large, painful pimples so long after my teenage years (and still getting them at 74 if I don’t read the ingredient info carefully). A friend suggested that maybe I was allergic to cheese and so, looking carefully at cheese labels in the supermarket, I noticed the additional ingredient, annatto. It was a lightbulb moment. I then looked carefully at the ingredients of everything every time I went shopping and was astonished to see how often annatto was added to all sorts of products. Now in Europe and UK it is not added because of the allergic reaction it can cause, but I now notice the use of ‘paprika powder’ instead and this also has the same effect on my skin. The spots that I get are always situated around the mouth, nose and chin - Deborah UK