Is Carmine Vegetarian?

Not Vegetarian

Obtaining it requires the animal to die, so it falls outside a vegetarian diet as well as a vegan one.

The two diets, side by side

A vegetarian diet excludes animals that were killed. A vegan diet excludes animal products entirely, whether the animal survived or not. Carmine fails both tests on the same fact, so the two diets agree here.

Carmine is not vegan. The red comes from female cochineal insects, Dactylopius coccus, dried and crushed at a rate of roughly 70,000 bodies per pound of dye. Lipstick, blush, yogurt, and fruit juice all carry it under names like cochineal, carminic acid, or CI 75470.

Relevant to: Insect

What it is

Comes from: Derived from the dried, crushed bodies of female cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus). Approximately 70,000 insects are killed per pound of dye.
Which animal: cochineal insect
Requires slaughter: Yes
Where you meet it: Red, pink, and purple foods: yogurts, fruit juices, sweets, jams. Also used in cosmetics (lipstick, blush, eyeshadow) and some medications.
What replaces it: Beet juice (E162), Lycopene (E160d), Anthocyanins (E163), or synthetic Red 40 (E129).

Editorial notes

Also not permitted in some religious diets (Halal, Kosher without specific certification). Common hidden allergen in pink-colored products.

Frequently asked questions

Is Carmine vegetarian?

Not Vegetarian. Obtaining it requires the animal to die, so it falls outside a vegetarian diet as well as a vegan one.

Is Carmine vegan?

Not Vegan. Carmine is not vegan. The red comes from female cochineal insects, Dactylopius coccus, dried and crushed at a rate of roughly 70,000 bodies per pound of dye. Lipstick, blush, yogurt, and fruit juice all carry it under names like cochineal, carminic acid, or CI 75470.

Is carmine vegan?

No, carmine is not vegan. The pigment comes from the dried, crushed bodies of female cochineal insects, which makes it animal-derived by definition. Because producing it requires killing the insects, it is also generally considered unsuitable for a vegetarian diet.

What is carmine made from?

Carmine is made from cochineal insects. The insects are farmed on prickly pear cacti, primarily in Peru. The dried female insects are crushed, their carminic acid is extracted, and the extract is treated with aluminum salts to form a stable red pigment.

Is carmine the same as cochineal extract?

They come from the same insect but are slightly different products. Cochineal extract is the crude coloring solution extracted from the dried insects, while carmine is the purified lake pigment made by binding that extract with aluminum salts. Neither one is vegan.