In this blog post, we will look at the safety of natural pigments through the identity of cochineal extract pigments used in strawberry milk and ketchup, and through cases of side effects.
Red natural pigment, cochineal extract pigment
Which would people prefer, pink or white strawberry milk in a transparent cup? Most would choose the pink-tinted cup. Visual effects like this stimulate the appetite and play an important role in people’s food choices. After all, we unconsciously ingest pigments with food in our daily lives.
The pigments used in food are largely divided into natural pigments and synthetic pigments. Natural pigments are pigments produced by plants, animals, or microorganisms, while synthetic pigments are pigments that have been artificially created to produce a specific color. Synthetic pigments have been widely used because they are dark, stable, and inexpensive, but their use is gradually being regulated as their harmfulness is becoming more widely known. At the same time, consumers are increasingly concerned about health and food safety, and they are clearly showing a preference for natural pigments derived from natural ingredients instead of chemically manufactured synthetic pigments.
As in the example of the original pink strawberry milk, most strawberry milk products on the market use natural pigments instead of synthetic pigments to produce the color red. A representative natural red pigment is “cochineal extract pigment.” Cochenille extract is used in a variety of foods, including strawberry milk, strawberry-flavored snacks and candies, tomato ketchup, crab sticks, and ham.
Cochenille extract from the cochineal beetle
So where is cochenille extract obtained? Cochenille extract is obtained from an insect called the cochineal beetle. The cochineal is an insect that parasitizes various cacti, including the prickly pear cactus in Mexico and Peru, and its female has a rich red substance in its fat cells. This female cochineal is collected, dried, and extracted with a water-alcohol solution to create a concentrated extract called cochineal extract pigment. Dried cochineal is exported from Central America to the rest of the world, and because it is easy to collect, the price is relatively low. In Korea, it has been permitted for use in food since 1993, and imported dried cochineal is processed to produce cochineal extract pigments.
Side effects of cochineal extract pigments
Is cochineal extract a natural pigment and therefore safe for the human body? No, it is not. Cochineal extract is known to cause allergic reactions, which can lead to asthma, acute enteritis, rash, vomiting, and breathing difficulties. There are two possible reasons for these side effects. First, certain protein components of the female ladybug may be extracted along with the cochineal extract during the extraction process, which may cause allergies in some people. Second, chemicals such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and thinners used to preserve quality may cause problems.
These side effects have been reported in several cases and studies. For example, there was a mass outbreak of acute enteritis caused by cochineal extract in a hospital in Massachusetts, USA. In Canada, a child developed a skin rash after eating yogurt containing cochineal extract. In Japan, a woman who drank strawberry juice suffered from anaphylaxis and shock. Based on these cases and studies, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated cochineal pigment as a “suspected allergen” in 2009.
How to deal with the side effects of cochineal extract pigment
In Korea, there is insufficient government-level awareness, regulation, and information provision regarding the side effects of cochineal extract pigments. There are no labels on food products that indicate the side effects of cochineal extract pigments, and there is insufficient testing and regulation of these products, and it is not clear who is responsible if side effects occur.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prepared a bill on the labeling of cochineal extract pigments based on the results of research on the harmful effects of cochineal extract pigments. In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is also taking measures such as collecting and analyzing cases of adverse reactions to cochineal extract pigments for the safety of consumers.
It is necessary to specify the risks of cochineal extract pigments on food labels and to require that labels include separate warnings about allergic reactions and other side effects. In addition, a system should be in place to promptly report and respond to any symptoms that may appear.
In addition to government-level responses, consumers should also be aware of the side effects of cochineal extract pigments and refrain from consuming them. Recognizing that this pigment is contained in most products that require red color, such as strawberry milk, strawberry-flavored snacks, candy, tomato ketchup, crab sticks, and ham, it is also a good idea to choose products that use vegetable pigments such as tomatoes or foods that do not contain any pigments. In addition, cooking at home using vegetable ingredients such as strawberries and tomatoes can be a safe alternative.
