Carmines are red to pink colours obtained from cochineal, small scale insects (Dactylopius coccus) that live on cactus plants. The dried insects contain carminic acid, and combining it with aluminium, sometimes together with calcium, gives carmine, a stable pigment. The INS number is 120 and the E number E120, and Codex classes it as a colour. Labels may also call it cochineal or Natural Red 4.
Because it comes from insects, a snack coloured with carmine is not vegetarian or vegan. A small number of people are allergic to it, which is one reason some countries require it to be named on the label rather than covered by the word “colour”.
Carmine holds up well to heat and light, so it suits baked and coated products. On SeekSnack it is listed on Pocky Strawberry, the pink, strawberry-coated version of the biscuit stick.
