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Cochineal is an insect-derived red food color. The source is the dried bodies of female Dactylopius coccus; food makers use the resulting color materials to impart red coloring. In the United States, labels must identify cochineal extract or carmine by name when either is present.
What do cochineal, cochineal extract, carminic acid, and carmine mean?
The terms describe related but distinct parts of the ingredient:
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- Cochineal is the dried bodies of female Dactylopius coccus, an insect. It is not a plant ingredient.
- Cochineal extract is a concentrated color material made by extracting cochineal with water, alcohol, or a mixture, then removing the alcohol where used.
- Carminic acid is the principal coloring substance in cochineal.
- Carmine is a related lake color additive made from cochineal extract.
The FAO/JECFA specification notes that commercial cochineal products may also contain protein material from the source insect. FAO/JECFA cochineal extract specification
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Depending on the product and jurisdiction, related names can include cochineal carmine, Natural Red 4, and INS 120. FAO’s additive compendium associates carmines with INS 120 and lists synonyms including carmine and cochineal carmine. These names are not necessarily interchangeable as label declarations everywhere. FAO/JECFA additive compendium: Carmines
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- Net weight 1 ounce / 28.3 grams
- Contains water, beta carotene, carmine, cultured corn glucose, sugar and vegetable gum -- note: carmine is a NON-kosher ingredient
- Try the color in a small amount in your individual application to find what works best
- One way to avoid using too much is to test the baking color on surfaces by airbrushing
- Applying natural color to a dry surface you rarely rarely requires checking degree of pH, heat stability or other variables
Why is cochineal used in food?
Its function is to add color. JECFA classifies its functional use as colour, and the FDA lists cochineal extract and carmine among color additives permitted for food use under applicable requirements. These facts do not mean every red food contains it; whether a particular product uses it depends on its ingredients. FAO/JECFA cochineal extract specification · FDA, Color Additives in Foods
How can you tell if a food contains it?
In the United States, check the ingredient statement for the words cochineal extract or carmine. FDA guidance says the applicable common or usual name must be declared when present, including in foods such as butter, cheese, and ice cream. The requirement followed a final rule published January 5, 2009, and took effect January 5, 2011. The FDA guide is explanatory; the underlying regulation is binding. FDA Small Entity Compliance Guide
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Do not rely on a general term such as “natural color” to identify it in the United States: the FDA guidance specifies the names cochineal extract or carmine. This article verifies that US rule only; labeling requirements can differ elsewhere.
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What does FDA regulation mean for its use?
The FDA lists cochineal extract as a color additive for food use, subject to its regulation. It is permanently listed and exempt from batch certification, but that does not mean it is unregulated. FDA says color additives must satisfy the identity and purity specifications and use limits in their listings. Color additives also require premarket approval for intended uses and are not covered by a GRAS exemption under the statutory color-additive definition. FDA regulatory status: Cochineal Extract · FDA, Color Additives – Information for Consumers
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Can cochineal or carmine cause an allergic reaction?
Yes, allergic reactions are a documented potential concern for some people. FDA says that potential reactions are why the ingredients must be named on food labels. JECFA also notes that cochineal extract, carmines, and possibly carminic acid in foods and beverages may provoke reactions in some individuals. The cited authorities do not establish how common reactions are or their typical severity. FDA, Color Additives Questions and Answers for Consumers · WHO/JECFA database: Cochineal Carmine
JECFA records a group acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0–5 mg per kg of body weight for carmines, expressed as ammonium carmine or equivalent calcium, potassium, and sodium salts. JECFA established this value in 1982 and maintained it at its 55th meeting in 2000. An ADI is an expert committee’s assessment, not a personal consumption target or a guarantee that an individual will tolerate the ingredient. JECFA’s separate record for cochineal extract says no ADI was allocated in 1977, so the carmine ADI should not be applied indiscriminately to every cochineal-derived material. WHO/JECFA database: Cochineal Carmine
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FDA’s safety review of color additives considers factors such as probable exposure, cumulative dietary effect, safety factors, and methods for determining purity and impurities. Regulatory approval for specified uses and the possibility of individual allergic reactions are separate issues.
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