Ingredients and products
Is carmine (E120) vegan? What replaces it?
Short answer
No. Carmine (cochineal, E120) is a red colouring made from dried cochineal insects. Vegan alternatives include colourings from beetroot and paprika and anthocyanins from blackcurrant or chokeberry.
E120 comes from Dactylopius coccus insects. It appears in drinks, yoghurts, sweets and cosmetics (as “carmine” or CI 75470).
E124 and E129 are different reds — not every red additive is carmine, but E120 always comes from insects. On the label look for E120 / carmine / cochineal, or choose products with a vegan mark.