Additives
Cochineal (E120): What It Is and Is It Safe?
Limited risk
Colour · Natural colour
Red dye derived from crushed cochineal insects. Not suitable for vegans or vegetarians. Can cause severe allergic reactions in some people, including anaphylaxis. The FDA requires it to be listed by name on packaging.
- Category
- Colour — Natural colour
- Typically used in
- Yoghurt, sweets, fruit drinks, cosmetics
- Regulatory status
- Approved EU/USA/UK. Must be declared by name.
- Also listed as
- Carmine
- Concerns flagged
-
Possible allergen
Scrannr flags Cochineal automatically when you scan a barcode.
Sources
Where this comes from
- EFSA (2015) — Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of cochineal, carminic acid, carmines -E 120- as a food additive http://dx.doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4288
Products
Products containing Cochineal
We're building product pages that show real UK products containing Cochineal, using Open Food Facts data. They'll appear here soon — in the meantime, scan any barcode with the Scrannr app to check for it instantly.
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