Carmine#1390-65-4

Carmine is the aluminum or calcium-aluminum lake, on an aluminum hydroxide substrate, obtained by an aqueous extraction of the dried female insects of Dactylopius coccus Costa, enclosing young larvae. The primary source of the raw material is from the Canary Islands and parts of South America. The coloring principle derived from carmine chiefly consists of carminic acid (C22H20O13).

Product Usage

Carmine [CAS: 1390-65-4] is the trade name for the aluminum lake of the red anthraquinone dye carminic acid obtained from the cochineal bug. The dye is obtained from the powdery form of cochineal by extraction with hot water, the extracts treated with aluminum salts, and the dye precipitated from the solution by the addition of ethanol. This water-soluble bright red dye is used for coloring shrimp, pork sausages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. It is the only animal-derived dye approved as a colorant for foods and other products.