E120 — Cochineal
E120 (Cochineal), a color, is rated "safe": no significant concern. A natural red dye made from crushed cochineal insects. Rare but real allergic reactions, including occasional anaphylaxis. Not vegan or vegetarian-friendly.
What is Cochineal?
A deep red dye extracted from the dried bodies of cochineal scale insects. Used in yogurts, fruit drinks, sausages, lipsticks, and some "natural color" pinks and reds.
What does it do to the body?
Most people tolerate it fine, but a small group has IgE-mediated allergic reactions that range from hives to, rarely, anaphylaxis. People who already have many food allergies have the highest risk. Vegans, vegetarians, and many religious diets also avoid it on principle since it is animal-derived.
What regulators say
EFSA kept the acceptable daily intake at 5 mg per kg of body weight per day in 2015, equivalent to 2.5 mg carminic acid. Both EFSA and the FDA require it to be declared on labels rather than hidden under generic "color".
Risk rating: Safe
Cleared by EFSA with no significant concern at typical dietary exposure. Common, well-studied, and not a reason to put a product back on the shelf.
Source: EFSA — re-evaluation of cochineal (2015) ↗