Cochineal and Carmine – Cost-Effective Natural Colors

As food colors, cochineal extract and carmine are great natural colorants.

With excellent heat, light, and acid stability, they provide shade options for a wide range of applications, ranging from beautiful pinks and bright reds to oranges and lavenders.

It can be labeled as carmine or cochineal extract, dependent on the type. From a performance standpoint, color from cochineal extract and carmine are certainly amongst the top natural color contenders, especially with its cost-in-use advantage.

Another challenge with carmine specifically is its permissibility in certain EU applications.

Challenge 1

Carmine lakes are regulated and no longer permitted in ice creams, fruit ices, and some other novelty treats in Europe.

Challenge 2

The presence of high levels of 4-Aminocarminic Acid (4-ACA), natural occurring ammonium from the cochineal’s protein, presents a regulatory concern in Europe, but fortunately low 4-ACA carmine options are available.

Challenge 3

Lastly, carmine has historically been a natural color with severe price volatility. The harvesting of cochineal can be greatly impacted by weather and other issues, and there are only a few worldwide growing regions. While carmine is one of the more efficient natural color sources, the historical price volatility has understandably been a major source of frustration for manufacturers when it comes to forecasting and budgeting.

Improving Price Volatility

Our Sensient Food Colors Peru location enables us to participate earlier in the process flow of color from cochineal, so we can provide cost-effective carmine and cochineal options. We are working with our farmers to establish full traceability down to the individual cochineal plots. Sensient’s Agronomy team equips our partner farmers with the tools necessary to cultivate a steady supply of cochineal at fair market pricing, all while preserving the environment. By creating longer term partnerships, we can create a more stable price environment for food, beverage, and pet manufacturers. While every natural color crop brings different challenges to the table, our end goal with all of our vertically integrated colors is the same—more for less!

The opportunity to formulate with carmine and cochineal spans vastly across applications, cakes, buns, cookies, dairy, soft drinks, and more.

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Cochineal and Carmine – Cost-Effective Natural Colors

Here’s some fast facts on the centuries-old, sought after natural red:

What’s Old is New Again:

A Fresh Look at Carmine and Cochineal

As food colors, cochineal extract and carmine are great natural colorants.

With excellent heat, light, and acid stability, they provide shade options for a wide range of applications, ranging from beautiful pinks and bright reds to oranges and lavenders.

With the bright, stable shades available, innovation can be endless and cost-effective with Sensient’s portfolio of vertically integrated cochineal and carmine options.

Request a consultation today!

Related Articles

Cochineal and Carmine – Cost-Effective Natural Colors

Here’s some fast facts on the centuries-old, sought after natural red:

What’s Old is New Again:

A Fresh Look at Carmine and Cochineal

As food colors, cochineal extract and carmine are great natural colorants.

With excellent heat, light, and acid stability, they provide shade options for a wide range of applications, ranging from beautiful pinks and bright reds to oranges and lavenders.

With the bright, stable shades available, innovation can be endless and cost-effective with Sensient’s portfolio of vertically integrated cochineal and carmine options.

Request a consultation today!

Related Articles

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