carmine, Tag

Cochineal beetles are rejoicing this month as the Hansen sweet potato proves a viable alternative for producing the carmine color crushed beetles have long added to foods and cosmetics.[...]

We were recently shocked to learn that Starbucks’ strawberry drinks are colored with ‘carmine’ – a dye made from crushed parasitic beetles...

Think that crushed red bugs are only used to color Starbucks drinks? Guess again. Cochineal extract is also used widely in cosmetics, namely your lipstick. Aside from the cringe- factor, the dye is known to cause severe allergic...