Tag: Dactylopius coccus

Despite popular belief, red dye isn't made from parasites, but from a specific type of scale insect known as the cochineal. These tiny bugs, harvested primarily from prickly pear cacti, produce carminic acid, a potent natural pigment.

While it may be shocking to learn, the vibrant red color in many foods and cosmetics comes from a tiny insect. Understanding if the cochineal is a parasite in food involves separating its biological role in nature from its function as a processed food additive.

The brilliant red carmine dye, used for centuries in textiles and food coloring, is derived from the tiny, parasitic cochineal insect. But where do you find cochineal parasites, and what is their natural habitat? These fascinating insects live exclusively on prickly pear cactus plants throughout the Americas.