Is red 40 still made from bugs?!


Question: Is red 40 still made from bugs!?
uck!. that is so nasty!. even when i wasen't veg i thought that was nasty!.Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
According to Wikipedia, FD&C red 40, also known as Allura Red AC, is not made from insects:

"Despite the popular misconception, Allura Red AC is not derived from the cochineal insect!. Red AC is derived from coal tar!. However, the red coloring carmine is derived from the female Dactylopius coccus, a South and Central American beetle!."

But! if you then look up carmine, you find this:
"Carmine is used in the manufacture of artificial flowers, paints, rouge, yogurt, cosmetics, food additives, and crimson ink!."

So it looks like there are bugs in your breakfast after all!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Red 40 may not be, but carmine still is!. However, red 40 often contains carmine, so its anyones guess!. Carmine is made from the wings of cochineal beetles that have been fed from a bright red cactus, which gives them their color!. Although carmine is the most commonly known food coloring containing insects, many others come from insects as well, such as green and blue "lake" food colors!. Some are from marine algae!. I, personally, do not need or want my food and drinks to be brightly colored, so I make everything homemade to avoid them and other nasty chemicals!. Keep in mind that food coloring is also common in cosmetics, shampoos, inks, clothing dyes, and is fed to factory farmed fish to enhance the color (if you look on the label of farmed salmon, you will see "color added" on the label-its been fed carmine to make the flesh more pink) Nasty stuff!Www@FoodAQ@Com

Yes!. I'm pretty sure!. I guess since I can't back it up with a reference it doesn't mater what I think!.!.!.!.but I recently read it in a book called The Idiot's Guide to Veganism!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

It never was!. Red 40 is made from coal tar, so it's vegan!. Nasty, but vegan!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Yes!. Lots of things are nasty if you really get down to brass tacks!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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