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Loading...The Gross Truth about Natural Colors
- Angel Flinn
- December 7, 2010
- 4:06 pm
- 284 comments
Many consumers may not yet be aware that the red substance coloring their food, fabric, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals could be extracted from the crushed bodies of insects.
The words Cochineal, Cochineal Extract, Carmine, Crimson Lake, Natural Red 4, C.I. 75470, E120, and even some ‘natural colorings’ refer to a dye called ‘carminic acid’, which is primarily used as a food coloring and in cosmetics.
Carminic acid is a substance found in high concentration in cochineal insects. It is extracted from the insect’s body and eggs and is mixed with aluminum or calcium salts to make carmine dye (also known as cochineal).
In good news for those of us looking to avoid the products of animal exploitation, the ingredient must be included on packaging labels when used as a food additive, as it has been known to cause severe allergic reactions, asthmatic attacks, and anaphylactic shock in some people.
As of January 5, 2011, a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation will require all foods and cosmetics containing cochineal to declare it on their ingredient labels, due to objections from people who have concerns for reasons of health, ethics or religion.
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Read more: Animal Rights, Conscious Consumer, Diet & Nutrition, Food, Health, Pets, Vegan
Angel Flinn
Angel Flinn is Director of Outreach for Gentle World – a non-profit educational organization whose core purpose is to help build a more peaceful society, by educating the public about the reasons for being vegan, the benefits of vegan living, and how to go about making the transition.
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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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people are talking
i love animals
My kitty did silly things like this when he was little. Thanks for the cute overload!
Thank you!
thanks for sharing
I hope he rests in peace. We all should think like this.Not in a morbid way,but in a positive way.T…
284 comments
+ add your ownCheers!
Vanessa, do you think insects are not animals? They too are part of the animal kingdom.
Interesting
I wouldn't care except it's unclean for me. We can only eat grasshoppers and crickets in the insect family.
Ewww. But I'm glad it's not an animal product.
Didn't know this, so good to know
all i can see theses days is that white stuff(snow)
Thanks
Thanks
Thanks
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