Carmine (E120): Is It Vegan? Where It Hides

Carmine is insect-derived: the pigment is extracted from dried cochineal insects, so it is not compatible with a vegan claim and sits outside most vegetarian standards as well. It appears on labels as carmine, cochineal extract, carminic acid, E120 or — in cosmetics — CI 75470, where it is a mainstay of pink and red shades.