Carmine food coloring is buggy!

[Goldiegirl]

I have yet again bought another yogurt which is colored with Carmine. I am so tired of buying food products that are colored with beetle derived color. I find that so disgusting. I would like the label to mention that they are using beetles to color their product. Does anyone else find that disturbing? I know we eat bug parts all the time in food products, but honestly, I can't do much about it. But to knowingly be fed beetle juice in my food and it to not be labeled I find outrageous. What do you all think?

 

[nice gaijin]

The cochineal (the bug used to create carmine) has long been one of the only natural sources for red dyes. Synthetic dyes are considered carcinogenic and are no longer allowed in our foods.

Frankly, if you don't want to consume this particular dye, your only surefire way to avoid it is to stop consuming products that use it. As a consumer, your buying power is your only real power. Calling the company to complain without the backing of some powerful lobbying organizations will do little good if any.

To be honest, I think there is something inherently wrong in the use of any food coloring. Our products are processed to the point that they have to be painted to look "more natural," because their real color isn't appetizing enough? If we eat fresh foods, then we shouldn't need to worry about that. Overall, I am more concerned with the use of pesticides and preservatives than food coloring, but the apparent 'need' to dye our foods is indicative of a larger (unhealthy) trend in food manufacture.

 

[Goldiegirl]

Yoplait has switched to beet juice for added coloring, why can't they use it for all the red colored yogurts. I too don't need to have my food colored. I just want it to taste good, and be as bug free as possible. I wonder how true vegans would feel knowing there salad dressing wasn't truly vegetarian and contained bugs? And yes, I don't consume anything with carmine. I didn't read that label, because the other "red" yoplait flavors were colored with the beet juice...that's how the strawberry/banana one slipped through. I was ticked off!

 

[Sarapva]

I need to start looking at the labels - I have seen some things colored with beet juice and sweetened also with beet juice. I'll look for "carmine" though. I would think that in the natural foods section there would be less artificial coloring, and some things are labeled "vegan". I only eat soy yogurt now, and I'm stopping by the store tomorrow so I'll look at those labels! Thanks for the warning!

 

[Goldiegirl]

Watch out for fruit juices drinks as well. Snapple had a view varieties that used carmine too, but they had a different name for it; so I looked it up and sure enough it's beetles! I am not sure if they are still using it to color there drinks, because I haven't bought them in a long, long time. I was also reading that some people who have allergies to bees and such can have allergic reactions to this beetle. If we have to label products that contain, dairy, soy, tree nuts, peanuts because of allergies I would think insect allergies should count because they are "knowingly" using the bug!

 

[Mars Man]

The idea of eating bugs, in and of itself, does not bother me...I rather like inago (a field cricket sauted with soy sauce and a dab of sugar)...and know that many primative social groups do eat bugs and worms, and so on.

However, I fully agree with attitude of 'big business' trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the public. I have often though of some of the strange ways foods go through processing, and coloring is one of them. Labeling food products clearly and honestly should be even stricter, throughout the world.

It is true, nevertheless, that we humans too eat with our eyes, and that makes marketing keep 'eye appeal' level high with cost of product down. Consumerism may have a big hand in this too...so as nice gaijin pointed out, the dollar vote becomes the measuring factor. Action to increase public awareness and buying patterns will do the trick--but...you see, the companies, most unfortunately, already have the capital to do whatever while to form a group, work up the funds to spearhead a movement to make changes...hard work.

I also agree that there are more chemical additives to things like soaps, cosmetics, and some other household goods, that could possibly be leading just as bad--if not worse--adverse health conditions. (although companies which usually sell the more 'bad chemical additive free' health-like products {and usually direct marketing techniques} go over board with their campaigns)

 

[kairu]

I always really pay really close attention to the labels of everything I buy--obviously not close enough attention, though, as I never even thought to look for this for some reason.
Well, I'll add it to the list ;-). I agree with you Goldiegirl, and thank you for posting this thread, otherwise I might have gone uninformed for quite a while longer

 

[Goldiegirl]

I think in truth in labeling is needed. Carmine, to most people is an Italian name, it's not even the correct name for the bug. I truly feel that is trickery.

Mars Man, I agree, many people enjoy eating insects, but you are making that choice. I prefer to not eat them as much as is possible.

 

[Sarapva]

I've seen a label on a brand of juice that said something like, "We use no ingredients from insects." I didn't know what that meant then, but now I do! I looked at some labels today in the store, and didn't see carmine on them. I think the soy yogurt I use doesn't have coloring added.

posted by Mars Man:

I also agree that there are more chemical additives to things like soaps, cosmetics, and some other household goods, that could possibly be leading just as bad--if not worse--adverse health conditions.

Yes, there are animal ingredients in cosmetics and soaps, cleaners, etc. There's a book that PETA updates every year called "Shopping Guide for Caring Consumers" that lists all these things and explains what they are, and also lists companies that use only vegan ingredients. Things like "stearic acid" are animal-derived unless it says "from a vegetable source". Even gelatin is animal-derived.

I just looked up "carmine" in this book. Here is what is says:

Carmine, Cochineal, Carminic Acid
Red pigment from the crushed female cochineal insect. Reportedly, 70,000 beetles must be killed to produce one pound of this red dye. Used in cosmetics, shampoos, red applesauce, and other foods (including red lollipops and food coloring). May cause allergic reaction.
Alternatives: Beet juice, alkanet root

 

[epigene]

Japanese and other cultures (not only in Asia) have historically had insects in their diet, roasted, fried, etc. The tradition still lives in parts of Japan, although it is no longer common and many young people are terrified by the idea.

Because I have no resistance against use of so-called "bugs," I actually think it's organic to be colored with insects.

Still, if famine strikes, we will all be eating those.

 

[Goldiegirl]

My husband like some insects, for eating that is. I think one is a butterfly or the caterpillar, I am not sure, but I also thought he said it was pickled.

The issue is again, that it should be labeled insects are in there...that's all. What about true vegans?

 

[Mars Man]

That, I think we can all agree on, is the point, indeed. Labeling should be strict all over the world. (and it should be self-induced by companies, but isn't...unfortunately)

 

[Sarapva]

The issue is again, that it should be labeled insects are in there...that's all. What about true vegans?

This is why it's hard for anyone to be truly vegan! There are so many hidden ingredients in things. It seems to be up to the individual to find out what certain ingredients are.

 

[Mycernius]

Insects are good for you. Full of protein.
I saw a programme once about the eating of insects around the world. In all the inhabited continents only Europeans do not eat insects as part of a regular diet.
Anywho a related video:

Enjoy

 

[Sarapva]

I have nothing against insects in the diet if it's by choice! :erm:

 

[Goldiegirl]

Ok, now I found it in my lip gloss! It did say "all natural".

 

[Tsuyoiko]

Eek! Since I'm vegetarian I always avoid cochineal, but I didn't know carmine was the same thing! I usually only buy stuff that says "suitable for vegetarians" though. Luckily, the labelling here is pretty good.

 

[Anohito]

I definitely agree that labeling should be uniform and should be strictly regulated (I suppose that will bring in the people who insist that "all government regulation is BAD!"). That being said, I am more concerned about high fructose corn syrup in products than I am about cochineal dyes. Last year it was revealed in news articles that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) tends to make the body store fat. Just what everybody needs! (that is sarcasm) Too many products use HFCS instead of the slightly more expensive sugar (sugar tastes better, as far as I'm concerned). At least food producers in the USA are required to say a product contains HFCS. That way I can tell by looking at the ingredients if a product contains it.

This is slightly off topic, but some people in the USA just love a type of cake called "red velvet cake". I have eaten some. It was terrible! The reason it is red is food coloring, not strawberries or something sensible. Check the recipe at the URL below. Two tablespoons of red food coloring is way too much.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_23379,00.html

 

[Goldiegirl]

Why can't we just use sugar and no bugs? I had to search around for bug free yogurt again. Carmine seems to be the choice for color. I understand that they add coloring to make it more appealing to most people. I know many people who don't care if their food is colored or not, but most research shows that most people pick food by color. That's why red delicious apples are bought, they don't taste as sweet and delicious as other apples, but they have a great red color and uniform shape, the same for those big red strawberries...utterly tasteless, but they sure do look pretty. So, I don't mind if they want to add color, but could it please come from beets, or as I saw today grape skins?

 

[Anohito]

Why can't we just use sugar and no bugs? [snip] but most research shows that most people pick food by color. That's why red delicious apples are bought, they don't taste as sweet and delicious as other apples, but they have a great red color and uniform shape, [snip]

I don't know for sure, but I strongly suspect that bugs are cheaper, and companies will continue to use cochineal dye unless a lot of people decide, "Ewww, that's gross! I won't buy that." We never buy red delicious apples or Macintoshes, either. Our standard apple is the Braeburn. If I/we were in Japan, I would be buying Fuji apples, but the ones grown in the US are somewhat variable in quality.

 

[Goldiegirl]

Heirloom apples are the best. I like pippin, northern spy, and I think it's called a snow apple. I can't recall for sure. They aren't always "pretty" but they actually have taste!

Bugs are cheaper, I suppose, but not appealing to me, in any form, dead or alive. Of course I don't kill bugs, not even spiders. Ok, I killed all the fleas when our dog got them, and I admit I will kill ticks too, and I spray mosquitos. Ok so I do kill some bugs, I just don't eat them after...

 

[Tsuyoiko]

My yoghurt has anthocyanins in it. Seems like a pretty good alternative to carmine.

 

[Goldiegirl]

They use that in some of the yogurt I eat, but they call it by where they get the pigment, grape skins. I'll have to remember anthocyanins. If I saw that in the ingredients I might stay away as it sounds so foreign. Thanks for sharing that helpful tidbit!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Really i think its up to people to educate themselves about these things- IMHO ideally, you should always know exactly what you are buying.
I personally don't see whats so bad about using bugs in food or to eat on their own, the eating of all sorts of insects/bugs is commonplace in many parts of Asia, and i for one would certainly like to try some of these dishes out (the only one which really grosses me out is the eating of things which are still alive, like those wiggety bugs that Aborigines eat) !