Is red dye/colouring vegan?
Cochineal (E120 or red #4), also labeled as carmine, carminic acid, is a red dye derived from the cochineal beetle. I've seen it in everything from candy sprinkles (hundreds and thousands) to savoury pre-packaged meal options. It's a common ingredient, but other options are available. Products which use this may include, but aren't limited to:
- Candies and sweets
- Commercial juices (e.g. Tropicana) and fruit bases (e.g. strawberry yoghurt, McDonalds' strawberry shakes)
- Makeup (how do you think they got those lips so red)
- Lots of junk food (and I don't just mean sweet stuff)
As a side, another vegan offender is shellac, which comes from the secretion of the lac insect (a relative of the cochineal beetle). This is generally considered to be a vegetarian product as the secretion is a by-product. Common uses include, but are not limited to:
- Coating fruit in your local supermarket
- Varnish and polishes
- Lip salves
- Glazing agents for confectionary goods