Is it vegan?
Last reviewed July 10, 2026 Carmine and cochineal (E120)
That bright natural red in the yogurt or the candy is often crushed insects. Carmine, cochineal extract, Natural Red 4, E120: all the same animal dye.
What it is
Cochineal extract and its refined pigment carmine are among the oldest food colours still in use, a deep crimson pulled from an insect. The FDA and the World Health Organization's food-additive experts describe the source the same way: the dye comes from the dried bodies of the female cochineal insect, Dactylopius coccus, farmed mostly on cactus in Peru and the Canary Islands. Tens of thousands of insects go into a single pound of the finished colour, which is why it is unmistakably an animal product.
Why it trips people up
The trouble is the labelling. The same colour appears as cochineal, cochineal extract, carmine, carminic acid, crimson lake, Natural Red 4 or E120, and the word natural on the front of a pack does nothing to flag it. Since 2011 the FDA has required US labels to name cochineal extract and carmine directly, after reports of allergic reactions, so reading the ingredient list is now the reliable check.
Is carmine the same as cochineal?
They are closely related. Cochineal extract is the raw colouring from the dried insects, and carmine is the refined bright-red pigment made from it. Both come from the cochineal insect and neither is vegan.
What names does it hide under?
Cochineal, cochineal extract, carmine, carminic acid, crimson lake, Natural Red 4, and E120. In the US, food and cosmetic labels must now name cochineal extract and carmine specifically.
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