Watch Out For Bugs In Your Food
Effective January 5, 2011, the FDA will require all cochineal extract and carmine color additives to be included in the ingredient statement on food and cosmetic labels. Currently these are usually listed as "artificial color."
In case you're not aware, cochineal extract and carmine are used to dye food, drinks and cosmetics various shades of red, orange, pink and purple, and are extracted from the dried bodies of the female cochineal bug.
The reason for the ruling is that cochineal/carmine food colorings can cause severe allergic reaction in people.
For further information, see:
- FDA 21 CFR Parts 73 and 101
- Center for Science in the Public Interest Press Release 1/5/09
- FDA Law Blog
- Wikipedia - Cochineal
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
RELATED POSTS:
- Food, Inc. Review
- Food Shortages and Vegan Eating
- There Is Vegan Food For The Asking
- Raw Vegan Food
- A Small Vegan Experiment
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
2 comments
Bea Elliott on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at
Dannon and Yoplait list it on their labels - Oh yummy - Pus AND bugs in the yogurt… ick!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/ny-libugs075989334jan07,0,766637.story?obref=outbrain
Lane on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at
Hi Bea,
Thanks for Chicago Tribune’s article. I particularly liked the comment that this gives validity to the term “bug juice.”