INS 120

Additive of the Day: From Insects to Tables - The Controversy and Global Attitudes Towards Carmine as a Food Additive

#Food Additives#Food Coloring#INS 120#Carmine#E-120

E120, also known as carmine or carminic acid, is a natural red dye widely used in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. It is derived from cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus), a type of insect that parasitizes cacti. Despite E120 (carmine) having a long history of use as a natural pigment, its use as a food additive has sparked considerable controversy.

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March 3, 2025