You might be without even realizing it. Icky right? Here are the covert names you will find in the ingredient list that mean there are definitely insects in your food: carmine, crimson lake, cochineal, natural red 4, C.I. 75470, or E120. Why are food manufacturers purposely putting insects in your food? So they don’t have to use artificial food coloring. That’s right using insects for food coloring is a natural color additive. Carmine is a color additive made with the crushed bodies of cochineal beetles. Yum Yum!

photo from www.ecouterre.com

Starbucks was using this in some of their products, but after people, particularly vegetarians, were complaining, they replaced it with a plant based color additive. Dannon on the other hand is not backing down from consumers complaints. You will find it in the strawberry, cherry, boysenberry and raspberry flavors of its “Fruit on the Bottom” line; the strawberry flavor of its Oiko’s brand Greek yogurt; the pomegranate berry flavor of its “Light and Fit” yogurt; the blueberry flavor of its “Light and Fit Greek” yogurt; as well as several flavors of its Activia brand yogurts. While I don’t know for sure what other products are using insects to color their food, I would be cautious of anything red that is labeled naturally colored or no artificial colors used. Check the ingredient labels!

In the US we get squeamish when thinking about consuming insects, but many other countries consume them regularly. Minus the ick factor, there really isn’t a problem using insects for a color additive unless you have some dietary restrictions. If you have any dietary restrictions, make sure you are reading labels carefully. Carmine is not for vegetarians, those with allergies, or those with religious dietary restrictions.

So, let me know your thoughts. Will you be scrutinizing your labels for insects in your ingredients, or bragging to your friends that you eat insects?