Is Cochineal (E120 / Carmine / Carminic Acid) vegan?
Short answer
Cochineal (E120 / Carmine / Carminic Acid) is not vegan. E120 is a red dye made by crushing cochineal scale insects. Not vegan.
Key takeaways
- Verdict: Cochineal (E120 / Carmine / Carminic Acid) is not vegan.
- Commonly found in: Red yogurts and jellies, Strawberry-flavoured drinks, Some lipsticks and blushers.
- Vegan alternatives: Beetroot red (E162), Lycopene (E160d), Anthocyanins (E163), Paprika extract (E160c).
- Also listed as: carmine, carminic acid, natural red 4, crimson lake.
- Scan any barcode with VeggieOS (100% free) for an instant vegan verdict.
Also known as: carmine, carminic acid, natural red 4, crimson lake
What it is
A red pigment extracted from the dried bodies of female Dactylopius coccus insects.
Why not vegan
Roughly 70,000 insects are needed per kilogram of dye, so it is an animal product.
What a “Not vegan” verdict means
A not-vegan verdict means the ingredient is animal-derived in essentially all commercial supply, so a product listing it should be treated as non-vegan unless the manufacturer explicitly states a plant-based source in writing.
Where you'll find it
- Red yogurts and jellies
- Strawberry-flavoured drinks
- Some lipsticks and blushers
At a glance
| Verdict | ❌ Not vegan |
|---|---|
| Ingredient family | Colourings |
| E-number / code | E120 |
| Also listed as | carmine, carminic acid, natural red 4, crimson lake |
| Typical products | Red yogurts and jellies, Strawberry-flavoured drinks, Some lipsticks and blushers |
| Best vegan swap | Beetroot red (E162) |
| Settled by certification? | Not required |
How to read the label
Cochineal (E120 / Carmine / Carminic Acid) belongs to the colourings family. These are the terms worth scanning for on any ingredient list in this category:
- E120
- Carmine
- Carminic acid
- Cochineal
- Natural Red 4
- CI 75470
- Crimson Lake
- Search any red, pink or purple product for E120 and CI 75470 first.
- In cosmetics the same dye appears as CI 75470 — the number differs from the food code.
- Beetroot red (E162) and anthocyanins (E163) are plant colours and are safe.
- 'Natural colour' on a red product is worth a query; synthetic reds are always declared by number.
Mistakes to avoid
| Where it catches people out | What to do |
|---|---|
| Strawberry yoghurt and drinks | Carmine is still standard in some markets even where plant reds are available. |
| Lipstick and blush | Carmine is the default red pigment in mainstream cosmetics; look for CI 75470. |
| Pink ice cream and sweets | Check even where the flavour is not fruit-based. |
Colourings in context
Colour is the additive category with the clearest animal problem: carmine (E120, cochineal, carminic acid) is made by crushing scale insects, and roughly 70,000 insects are needed per kilogram of dye.
Carmine is popular precisely because it is stable, vivid and legally 'natural', so it appears in red and pink foods, drinks, yoghurts, and a very large share of cosmetics — particularly lipsticks and blushes.
Every other widely used colour is either synthetic or plant/mineral derived. Beetroot red, anthocyanins, paprika extract, spirulina blue, annatto and titanium dioxide are all vegan; the animal risk is concentrated in one number.
Does certification help? Both Leaping Bunny and vegan trademarks exclude carmine, so certified cosmetics remove the need to decode CI numbers.
Vegan alternatives
- Beetroot red (E162)
- Lycopene (E160d)
- Anthocyanins (E163)
- Paprika extract (E160c)
FAQ
- Is 'natural red 4' the same thing?
- Yes — it is one of several legal names for cochineal.
- Is carmine the only insect-derived colour?
- It is the only widely used one. Shellac (E904) is an insect resin used as a glaze rather than a colour.
- What is used instead of carmine?
- Beetroot concentrate, anthocyanins from black carrot, lycopene from tomato, and synthetic reds such as E129.
Sources
- The Vegan Society — Definitions & ingredients
- PETA — Animal-derived ingredients list
- EFSA — Food additives database
Last reviewed June 4, 2026