Natural Carmine Red food coloring is a type of Red coloring typically used in food and cosmetic products.

This color is produced by drying, grinding, and finally boiling the external layer of an insect named Cochineal. This insect feeds on Cactus trees, Cochineal is native to tropical areas of Central and South America and Mexico. This insect produces Carminic Acid as a defense mechanism. These insects are collected during spawning, then boiled and dried. Roughly 17 to 24 percent of their weight is Carminic Acid, Carmine color is produced by mixing Carminic Acid with Calcium and Aluminum. The color code of this color is E 120.

This color has many applications in Iran and Worlds food industry. For example, it’s used in making ice cream, herbal syrups, bakery products such as macaroni, cookies, masghati, etc.

Similar colors to Carmine

Synthesized food colorings such as Carmoisine, Allura Red, and Ponceau are in the market that unfortunately have many applications, especially in making a cake (Red Velvet) and pastry cream. This synthesized color is popular in producing ice creams and ice beverages that could cause many health damages, i.e., children ADHD, respiratory diseases such as Asthma, depression, and many negative side effects on the fetus, etc.

In all these products, Carmine color could be used. According to the FDA and Food and Medicine Agency of Iran, this is an appropriate color and can be used in the food industry.

It’s also worth mentioning that the dosage of this color is higher than equivalent synthesized colors.

This color has a high resistance to heat and light, in comparison with natural Beetroot Red food coloring, it has more color intensity.