Colour
E120 carmine (cochineal): what it is, its sources, vegan or not
E120 is carmine (cochineal), a colour made from cochineal insects. Vegan and vegetarian profiles get Not for you.
By Bravoora teamUpdated Sources checked 4 sourcesHow we check
Not for you
for a vegan profile
E120=cochineal insects
What is E120?
E120, carmine (cochineal), is a colour, an additive that adds or restores colour in a food.
Full guide: Carmine (E120)
What is E120 made from?
E120 comes from cochineal insects.
- Cochineal insectsRead the carmine guide
Is E120 vegan?
Not for you. E120 comes from cochineal insects. Insects count as animal.
What the app says to each profile, and the reason it shows.
What other names does E120 have on a label?
On a label, E120 can also appear as “INS 120”, “Colour (120)”, “Colour (E120)”, “Carmine (cochineal)” or “Cochineal”.
Any of these on a pack means E120. The checker reads them all.
What would change the answer for E120?
Nothing on the pack changes the answer: E120 is always from cochineal insects. A recipe that drops the code would.
Sources: EU, US and Codex additive rules
Where additives are listed and approved. Bravoora reads the source and the diet; it does not rate the hazard.
- EU Regulation 1333/2008 on food additives (the E-number list)
- EU Regulation 1169/2011, Annex II: the allergen sources a label must name
- US FDA: Food Additive Status List
- FAO/WHO Codex: General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) online
Names and classes cross-checked with Open Food Facts (Open Database License).
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