As a natural pigment, carmine has been obtained by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) without health risks. Although WHO has found that it may be allergic to some people with asthma, this is because the patient's constitution is too sensitive to some external environmental factors, rather than carmine.
Cochineal is rare in China, and the key to cochineal is importation, so the price is high. According to market sources, the main import source of carmine comes from Africa. It is a recognized edible additive in China. In 2019, the price of farmed cochineal in the international market has reached 4800 yuan per kilogram.
So what exactly is a cochineal?
In biological classification, cochineals belong to the wings and wings of insects. This parasite makes a living by absorbing the moisture and nutrients of cacti. Cochineals gather there because cacti are stained with spots. The main outputs are in Spain and Africa.
In fact, cochineals have long been used to make dyes. The magazine of the China Forestry Association has mentioned that as early as the 16th century, Italian colonists brought cochineal from the United States to Europe and used it as a dye, and sales are still very large. Carmine is often used in lipsticks and other cosmetics.
Like many food additives, food coloring can also be divided into natural colors and artificial colors. There are three sources of natural food coloring, namely the three organisms on Earth – animals, plants and microorganisms.
It is also worth emphasizing that carmine and carmine, although their names are similar, their personalities are very different. The former is a synthetic pigment with carcinogenic effects, and the addition of carmine to foods is strictly prohibited in the United States, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and other cities. Although China does not explicitly prohibit it, it also strictly controls its dosage and category, which is the "forbidden area" of meat. In contrast, carmine is healthier as a natural pigment.
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