Carminic acid

Carminic acid (CAS 1260-17-9), also sold as Natural Red 4 and approved under E120, is a natural red colorant derived from cochineal insects. It delivers stable, vivid red-to-purple hues across a wide pH range. This makes it a preferred alternative to synthetic dyes in regulated markets. In food and beverage manufacturing, it is used to color products such as yogurts, confectionery, meat preparations, and fruit drinks.

It is ideal where clean-label or natural positioning is required. Personal care formulators incorporate it into lipsticks, blushers, and other color cosmetics where pigment stability and regulatory acceptance are critical sourcing criteria. Textile and leather processors use it to achieve rich crimson shades on natural fibers, particularly wool and silk. Mordant-assisted dyeing produces excellent wash fastness for these specific industrial applications.

Printing ink producers also source it for specialty applications requiring natural-origin colorants with defined hue consistency. The material is supplied as a dark red to purple powder or as a liquid extract. Concentration is typically expressed as carminic acid content. Food-grade material is available to FCC and E120 specifications, while cosmetic-grade supply meets EU and FDA compliance requirements.

Purity grades range from standard extract concentrations up to high-purity isolated carminic acid for technical and analytical use. This ensures versatility across various manufacturing and laboratory environments.