When you record the ingredients recording label on the back of a bottle of juice , you plausibly mechanically divide them into recognizable ingredient — like fruit and vegetables — and more mysterious compounds , like “ cochineal , ” “ carminic back breaker , ” or “ Natural Red 4 . ”
Most of us do n’t put too much intellection into the more cryptic ingredients in our foods , but some of those mystery compounds in reality have a surprising reservoir — bugs .
It turns out “ cochineal , ” “ carminic acid , ” and “ raw Red 4 ” are all a form of red nutrient coloring that comes from the cochineal scale , a midget dirt ball indigenous to Central and South America . Humans have been using cochineal as a dye since at least the 1500s , and it can still be found in a mountain range of foods and cosmetic .
grant to WIRED , the bugs are wrap up in a layer of downlike wax , which actually take them look more white than cherry-red . Their red dyestuff , found under their waxy exterior , was grow to repel ant . The paint , made of carminic acid , forge as a chemic weapon against predatory animal — but it also makes great natural food coloring . Though the use of Dactylopius coccus has become more controversial in recent years ( consumer be given to be a routine squeamish about the idea of bug in their solid food , even if it ’s really just the extracted dyestuff ) , it can still be found in yogurts , juices , lip rouge , and flush . It ’s even used to give color to artificial crab meat — which means your fake crabby person is made of substantial germ .
Companies keep using the dyestuff despite controversy in part because it ’s the healthiest option . While cochineal occasionally provokes allergic reaction in consumers — and for certain is n’t kosher — it ’s stillbetter for you than synthetic dyes . Red No . 2 and Red No . 40 , for instance , are made of coal or petroleum byproduct , and expect much bully wellness risks . So , having a bit of bug in your juice may in reality be the healthiest option .
[ h / t : WIRED ]
