E120 — Cochineal

Cochineal, carminic acid and carmines: a red colour extracted from dried female cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus), so it is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. EFSA's 2015 re-evaluation kept the acceptable daily intake at 5 mg carmines (2.5 mg carminic acid) per kg bw/day and found no genotoxicity or carcinogenicity concern. It can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people, rarely anaphylaxis; EFSA could not set a safe threshold for these and recommended purifying the colour to remove residual insect proteins.