Tag: Beetles

Before 2009, Skittles used to contain an ingredient derived from insects. Today, classic Skittles no longer use any animal-derived ingredients for their coloring or shell, making them suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its Food Defect Action Levels, it is perfectly legal for a certain amount of insect fragments to end up in your food. Beyond this unavoidable contamination, there are also a handful of products that intentionally use beetle-derived ingredients, forcing many to wonder exactly, "What foods have beetles in them?".

Over 70,000 cochineal insects are required to produce just one pound of carmine dye. The question, “is carmine made out of beetles?” has long fascinated and sometimes horrified consumers who stumble upon the answer. This natural red colorant is prevalent in many everyday products, from cosmetics to food items.