Carmine
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2008-07-08T07:35:42Z
JAnDbot
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robot Adding: [[cs:Karmín]] Removing: [[fr:Carmin]]
{{this|the pigment}}
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'''Carmine'''
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[[Image:carminic acid structure.png|thumb|right|233px|Carminic acid]]
'''Carmine''' ({{IPAEng|ˈkɑːmɪn, ˈkɑrmaɪn, -miːn}}), also called '''Crimson Lake''', '''Cochineal''', '''Natural Red 4''', '''C.I. 75470''', or '''E120''', is a [[pigment]] of a bright [[red]] color obtained from the [[carminic acid]] produced by some [[scale insect]]s, such as the [[cochineal]] and the [[Polish cochineal]], and is used as a general term for a particularly deep [[carmine (color)|red color]]. Carmine is used in the manufacture of [[artificial flower]]s, [[paint]]s, [[rouge]], [[yoghurt|yogurt]], [[cosmetics]], [[food additive]]s, and [[crimson]] ink.
==Production==
Carmine may be prepared from [[cochineal]], by boiling dried insects in water to extract the carminic acid and then treating the clear solution with [[alum]], [[Potassium bitartrate|cream of tartar]], [[tin(II) chloride|stannous chloride]], or [[potassium hydrogen oxalate]]; the coloring and animal matters present in the liquid are thus precipitated. Other methods are in use; sometimes [[egg white]], [[Animal glue|fish glue]], or [[gelatine]] are added before the precipitation.
The quality of carmine is affected by the [[temperature]] and the degree of illumination during its preparation, [[sunlight]] being requisite for the production of a brilliant hue. It differs also according to the amount of [[alumina]] present in it. It is sometimes [[adulterated]] with [[cinnabar]], [[starch]] and other materials; from these the carmine can be separated by dissolving it in [[ammonia]]. Good carmine should crumble readily between the fingers when dry.
'''Carmine lake''' is a pigment obtained by adding freshly precipitated alumina to decoction of cochineal.
Carmine can be used as a [[staining (biology)|staining]] agent in microbiology, as a '''Best's carmine''' to stain [[glycogen]], '''mucicarmine''' to stain acidic [[mucopolysaccharide]]s, and '''carmalum''' to stain [[cell nucleus|cell nuclei]]. In these applications, it is applied together with a [[mordant]], usually an [[Aluminium|Al(III)]] salt.
==Allergy==
Carmine is used as a [[food coloring|food dye]] in many different products such as [[juice]], [[ice cream]], [[yogurt]], and [[candy|candies]], eyeshadow, lipstick, etc. Although principally a red dye, it is found in many foods that are shades of red, pink, and purple. As a food dye it has been known to cause severe allergic reactions and [[anaphylactic shock]] in some people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v46je03.htm |title=WHO FOOD ADDITIVES SERIES 46:COCHINEAL EXTRACT, CARMINE, AND CARMINIC ACID |accessdaymonth=03 |accessyear=2008 |author=Dr J. B. Greig |publisher=Food Standards Agency |quote=The nature of the adverse reactions, e.g. urticaria, rhinitis, diarrhoea, and anaphylaxis, provides clear evidence that systemic reactions can follow exposure of a sensitized individual to cochineal colours. }}</ref>
Food products containing carmine-based food dye may prove to be a concern for people who are allergic to carmine, or people who choose not consume any or certain animals, such as [[vegetarianism|vegetarians]], [[veganism|vegans]], and followers of religions with dietary law (e.g. [[kashrut]] in [[Judaism]] and [[halaal]] in [[Islam]]).
==Regulations for use in foodstuffs==
===United States===
In the United States, carmine is approved as dye for foodstuffs.
Carmine is not required by the FDA to be explicitly named in all ingredient lists, and may sometimes be represented under "color added". As of the end of January [[As of 2006|2006]], the FDA is evaluating a proposal<ref>[http://media.www.thecowl.com/media/storage/paper493/news/2006/02/02/World/Dye-May.Cause.Some.Consumers.To.Bug.Out-1597165.shtml Dye may cause some consumers to bug out]</ref> that would require food products containing carmine to list it by name on the ingredient label. It was also announced{{Fact|date=February 2007}} that the FDA will separately review the ingredient labels of prescription drugs which contain colorings derived from carmine. A request from the [[Center for Science in the Public Interest]] (article titled: "FDA Urged to Improve Labeling of or Ban Carmine Food Coloring" [http://www.cspinet.org/new/carmine_8_24_98.htm])
{{Fact|date=February 2007}} to require ingredient labels to explicitly state that carmine may cause severe allergic reactions and [[anaphylactic shock]] and that is derived from insects was declined by the FDA. Food industries were aggressively opposed to the idea of writing "insect based" on the label and they finally agreed to simply putting "carmine"{{Fact|date=February 2007}}.
Although concerns over hazards from allergic reactions have been asserted,{{Fact|date=May 2008}} the [[Food and Drug Administration|United States Food and Drug Administration]] agency (FDA) has not banned the use of carmine and states it found no evidence of a "significant hazard" to the general population.[http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/27/insect.dye.ap/index.html]
===European Union===
In the [[European Union]] the use of carmine in foodstuffs is regulated under the [[European Commission|European Commission's]] directives governing food additives in general ([http://www.foodlaw.rdg.ac.uk/additive.htm], [http://www.fsai.ie/legislation/food/eu_docs/Food_additives/General_provisions/Dir%20292.97%20EC.pdf]) and food dyes in particular ([http://www.fsai.ie/legislation/food/eu_docs/Food_additives/Dir94.36.pdf]) and listed under the names ''Cochineal'', ''Carminic acid'', ''Carmines'' and ''Natural Red 4'' as additive E 120 in the [[E number|list of EU-approved food additives]] ([http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/chemsafe/additivesbranch/enumberlist]). The directive governing food dyes approves the use of carmine for certain groups of foodstuffs only (a list of approved uses is included in Annexes I and III of EU-Directive 94/36 [http://www.fsai.ie/legislation/food/eu_docs/Food_additives/Dir94.36.pdf]) and specifies a maximum amount which is permitted or restricts it to the [[quantum satis]].
The EU-Directive 2000/13/EC [http://www.fsai.ie/legislation/food/eu_docs/Labelling/General%20Labelling%20Provisions%20for%20Foodstuffs/Dir%202000.13%20EC.pdf] on food labeling mandates that carmines (like all food additives) must be included in the list of ingredients of a food product with its additive category and listed name or additive number, that is either as ''Food colour carmines'' or as ''Food colour E 120'' in the local language(s) of the market(s) the product is sold in.
Although concerns of hazards from allergic reactions were raised, the use of carmine in foodstuffs is not banned in the EU. However, the use of carmine in foodstuffs has been discouraged by European food safety authorities, and although it is predominately used as colouring in alcoholic beverages, it can still be found in foods such as supermarket Indian curries. A re-evaluation process of the approval status of several food colors (including carmine) was started by the ''Panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food'' of the [[European Food Safety Authority]] in early 2006 and is scheduled to be completed by 2008 ([http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/afc.html] Accessed on 2 January 2007, [http://www.efsa.europa.eu/etc/medialib/efsa/science/afc.Par.0001.File.dat/afc_food_colours_%20re-evaluation_%20call%20for%20data.pdf])
===The Middle East===
Carmine is prohibited as a food additive in [[Saudi Arabia]]. ([http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200607/146208500.pdf]) Both carmine and indigo carmine are permitted food additives in [[Qatar]]([http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200507/146130306.pdf]).
==References==
{{reflist}}
*Amy Butler Greenfield – ''A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire'', Harper Collins, 2005. ISBN 0-06-052275-5
*{{1911}}
==External links==
* [[Center for Science in the Public Interest]] press release [http://www.cspinet.org/new/200605011.html Bug-Based Food Dye Should Be ... Exterminated, Says CSPI]
[[Category:Arabic words and phrases]]
[[Category:Food colorings]]
[[Category:Insect products]]
[[Category:Natural dyes]]
[[Category:Pigments]]
[[Category:Staining dyes]]
[[cs:Karmín]]
[[da:Karmin]]
[[de:Karmin]]
[[es:Carmín]]
[[eo:Karmino]]
[[it:Carminio]]
[[hu:Kármin (festék)]]
[[nl:Karmijn]]
[[ja:コチニール色素]]
[[pl:Karmin]]
[[pt:Carmim]]
[[ru:Кармин]]
[[sv:Karmin]]
[[vi:Đỏ yên chi]]