The food industry does not hesitate to use a very stable and very practical red ingredient that is found in many articles. And it is made from crushed insects.
Few people know this, but it is very common to consume foods in which food coloring made from crushed insects is inserted. This is carmine, one of the most commonly used red dyes, for decades.
What insects are we talking about? Scale insects, which are native to Latin America, where they live on cacti. Now mostly grown in Peru, millions of these tiny insects are harvested each year to produce this dye.
In fact, carmine is a staple ingredient in the global food industry, found in a multitude of products such as flavored yogurts, syrups, jams, ice creams, fruit pies, soft drinks , sweets or cakes. Many foods designed for children, who are very sensitive to the color red! Carmine is also widely used in the cosmetics industry and is found in many lipsticks. In other words: we live very close to this insect powder, we have almost all consumed it one day or another.
If some consumers or manufacturers have expressed a little reluctance on the use of these insects, it has imposed itself for its practicality, its very stable character, its safety and its durability. Its color is also little affected by heat or light. It should also be added that carmine is also capable of producing a wide range of colors, ranging from pink to orange, passing through purple, in addition to red.
A natural and very old colorant, hidden under an obscure name of food additive
Manufacturers often point out that it is a natural product, much healthier than artificial alternatives, such as food colorings made from coal or petroleum by-products. It was first discovered and used by the Mayans and then the Aztecs over five centuries ago.
However, even carmine enthusiasts agree that it should be labeled more clearly. Fortunately, there are a growing number of natural alternatives to red coloring that are not of insect origin.
In France, carmine is identified as E120, according to the classification of food additives of the European Union. Hard to know what it is really about! Now you will know how to identify it!