Will Bug-Based Food Coloring Catch On?

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Yeah, is it just too hard to grow beets and use beet juice rather than making chemicals or killing things? Really? How lazy are these corporations that they have to reduce to killing bugs rather than taking their time farming some beets?
I've been food-coloring free for a long time so I hope others follow and decide to cut out chemicals from their diets -- it's made the biggest health difference for me since I started drinking tea on a regular basis. It's more than worth it. I just wish people would wise up before they poison their children...

tiel of NY 8:05AM January 25, 2011

How about they just leave both out. Do we really need to have color in the juice and other foods that is not from the fruit already? To answer the question, I would rather have the bugs in my food, they are already there anyways just look at peanut butter. I have two young girls and I try to avoid most things with artificial food coloring in it.

j of NY 9:12PM April 08, 2010

I agree. I also have an allergy to red #40 and have been eating Dannon fruit on the bottom yogurt for several weeks now, thinking Carmine is a natural alternative to a synthetic dye. I just researched what Carmine actually is and almost regurgitated my lunch. Thanks, Dannon. I think you should specifically label the source of Carmine on your product although I do understand you will lose potential customers. However, you have lost this customer for not divulging key information.

Megan of NC 1:02PM December 08, 2009

I'm vegetarian, but I'm probably not alone in wanting food colorings to be from simple vegetable based sources. Chemical or Animal-based sources are unacceptable, especially when something like beet extract can give just as good of a coloring agent as the other two sources.

robin of CA 3:01PM November 22, 2009

My son has a red dye # 40 allergy. He gets a rash when he ingests anything with red dye #40. I don't see how a bug based dye can be any safer than just producing a natural food product. It is frustrating that many medications contain red dye. It is also my experience that hospitals do not necessarily carry dye-free medications. It would be nice to be able to give my son a food without having to read every single label despite the color of the food externally. Did you know chocolate syrup and twinkies frequently contain red dye? What about vanilla frosting? You guessed it. It contains red dye too. I vote for natural foods with no processed color enhancers added including bug based dyes.

Amanda of NC 10:36PM October 17, 2009

I have to agree with Ruth of CA - - some of these methods of coloring have been around forever! But I wonder if in "ancient" times, the coloring was used for fabric or hair or face paint - - not food! I can't imagine anyone in "those days" being concerned that their "XXX" didn't "look good" and didn't have the right color! In the end, the consumer should be made aware of bugs, petroleum, whatever in foods. Having been given the knowledge, we can all choose for ourselves.

LaurelC of PA 4:56PM October 02, 2009

Its time for people to take a stand on this issue, sue the companies is usualy all of us generaly do but how about beating those people senceless for a change putting bugs in our food for colouring. If there arnt any laws now there will be here in my country now there should be labels that say its made with bugs not small print that says carmine, a scam to the general public..Dont we have people in charge to protect we the people, goes to show the general public money talks, and who rally cares about us...I would really like to shove those bugs (ALIVE) down there mouthe to everyone who is responsable its the right thing to do- who ever dissagrees with this statement does not belong in our society today

Very concerned 7:11PM March 12, 2009

My niece seems to have coughing spells and breathing
problems,at different times of the day, and different times during the week. doctors seem to cant give any answers but only guesses. But i did notice that she gets alot of flavored strawberry in her milk.do you have any respone on this topic?
Thank you
John Williams

John Williams of PA 9:31AM January 07, 2009

Tis will be a never edning debate. Still, In my views carmine is a 100% natural solution to a synthetic problem. Most food ingredients have some sort of alergy in a small number of individuals. We have to be cautious but not only of carmine but of many other ingredients of foods (cafeine,ginseng, sugar, wheat, etc. etc...the list is never ending). Synthetics also cause alergic reactions, and any mismanagement in maufacturing can have drastic and inmeasurable consecuences (just take a peak at china, huge issues with colors, melamine, etc.). Furtherstill, I am terrified of the cancer related consecuences synthetics are prone to. I have become increasingly consious about the dangers of an a artifical world, sepecially anything related to food. I respect the views of vegeterians and they have the right to choose not to consume products, when non-vegan ingredients are present. I alos repsect the views of those who are pro-sythetics. But I go fof natural products.

Pablo of 6:45PM October 30, 2008

Carmine is very danergous! I ended up in the ER 30 minutes after eating a Dannon yogurt with Carmine in it. Thank God that we were 15 minutes from the hospital. I almost lost my life as I went into severe anaphylactic shock. I had no idea that Carmine was an ingredient in yogurt.
After returning home from the hospital and researching Carmine, I found that I am not alone and that many children are allergic too. I want to encourage everyone to be cautious with Carmine....it is in many foods and candy....check the labels and be very careful.....

Sherie of CA 2:25AM October 29, 2008