Ever wondered what the recipe for that red food dye you see everywhere. you think it’s mighty from fruits or berries but sometimes it could chemicals that are in it like red 40. But there is a cheaper way and you might not expect this it’s actually, but it actually made from bugs that’s right living bugs. These bugs are called cochineal bugs which are a type parasitic bug, but they do not attack humans but rather cacti which they feed on for moisture and nutrients. These bugs are native to south America and hold some importance to big food companies, some people don’t know how the dye is made. First off the insects must be dried off and of course died, and then crushed them into powder. And then they pour boiling water on the powder and then they extract the carminic acid and then mix it with aluminum and calcium salt. That’s is all the steps to make the dye, but be warned that it’s only the females that can turn into dye not the males.
Related stories:
https://www.livescience.com/36292-red-food-dye-bugs-cochineal-carmine.html]
https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-science/carmine.htm
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/red-food-dye-cochineal-bugs_n_56fafd25e4b083f5c605f3dd
Take action:
https://www.acs.org/education/celebrating-chemistry-editions/2022-ccew/bugs-to-dye-for.html
