The Truth About Carmine

You should know every single ingredient that goes into your gloss.  If you have ever read the ingredients list on your favorite red lipstick or lip gloss then you are fully aware that many companies use a lot of "unnatural" ingredients. One of those ingredients is called Carmine, and actually comes from beetles. Believe it or not some people may also be allergic to Carmine. There are alternative ingredients so you can still wear your favorite shade of red without worrying about the dried creepy crawlies on your lips.  Just beware!  Next time you go to apply your favorite gloss you may want to dig a little deeper to see if carmine has been mixed in.

Is Carmine bad for you? Well that depends on if you like bugs! Carmine is approved for use by the FDA in not only food products that we consume but also cosmetics we apply to our skin. Carmine may also be labeled as Crimson Lake, Cochineal, Natural Red 4, C.I. 75470, or E120. Carmine is a pigment of a bright red color obtained from the carminic acid produced by some scale insects, such as the cochineal and the Polish cochineal. Carmine is used as a general term for a particularly deep red color.  It serves as an insect-based food coloring and it used extensively in cosmetics. Consumers like products that have rich vibrant color and the cosmetic and food manufacturers use Carmine to add color to make the products we consume look better. 

I was reading an ingredient label awhile back when I worked for a department store.   I saw the word “Carmine” and being the naturally curious person that I am, I started to do a little research on my own. Oh my!  Was I in for a surprise.  The more I read the more I felt nauseated.

It takes alot of these little bugs to make carmine.  About 70,000 of them to be exact to equal just one pound of extract.  In fact, the part of the insect that contains the most carmine is the abdomen. This is where the fertilized eggs of the Cochineal are stored.. Through the manufacturing process, the abdomens and eggs are separated from the rest of the body. They are in turn ground into a powder, then cooked, filtered and what is left is pure carmine- a very pretty deep red color. 

Although you’ve probably been eating these little bugs for years, without any harm, there have been reported cases of Anaphylactic shock. There was a proposed rule in 2006, which would require that manufacturers “flag the presence of cochineal extract in their products.”  The suggestion comes after more than 35 reports of severe allergic reactions to the dye surfaced.  Presently, cochineal extract in products is listed as E120 or under the umbrella term “color added” on nutrition labels.

The FDA declined to ban the use of extract since it found no evidence of a “significant hazard” to the overall population. Sorry I guess 35 is an ok number when you are talking about the masses – unless you happen to be one of the 35.

So is Carmine appetizing – well, not necessarily on the top of most menus. You can rest assured,  Hâut Minerals does not use any Carmine or other artificial color or fragrance in any of our skin care or mineral makeup products. 

You will find Carmine though in everything from yogurt to ice cream, juice drinks, rouge, cosmetics, paint, artificial flowers, and crimson ink.  In fact, there are a few big name brands out there that you might want to check before you buy.

Ironically, there are alternatives to carmine that are non insect-based like grape skins which definitely have less “gross” factor for consumption or use in cosmetics we apply to our skin.  Personally, I really don’t care if the FDA has approved Carmine for human consumption, I don’t want it in my food or on my face!  

Bottom line, read your label and make your own decision.  Bon apetite!