Comparing E120 - Cochineal vs E122 - Azorubine

Synonyms
E120
Cochineal
carminic acid
carmines
Natural Red 4
Cochineal Red
E122
Azorubine
carmoisine
Food Red 3
Brillantcarmoisin O
Acid Red 14
Azorubin S
C.I. 14720
Functions
Products

Found in 456 products

Found in 8 products

Search rank & volume
#6147.3K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#331420 / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×14.99
over-aware

×5.11
over-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 6 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 8 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Popular questions
  1. What foods contain cochineal?

    It’s used to color red/pink foods such as strawberry yogurts and dairy drinks, ice creams, candies and confections, jams and glazes, bakery icings, soft drinks/liqueurs, and sometimes processed meats or seafoods. On labels it may appear as “carmine,” “cochineal extract,” or E120.

  2. Is cochineal extract bad for you?

    No—major regulators permit it and consider it safe at typical food-use levels, though a small number of people can have allergic reactions (occasionally severe).

  3. What is cochineal extract?

    A natural red colorant obtained from dried cochineal insects; its main coloring compound is carminic acid. It may be converted to the aluminum lake form (carmine) for greater stability.

  4. Is cochineal safe to eat?

    Yes—within permitted levels it’s considered safe; the acceptable daily intake is 0–5 mg/kg body weight per day (as carminic acid). Rare allergies can occur, and it’s animal‑derived so not suitable for vegetarians/vegans.

  5. What is cochineal used for?

    To provide red to pink shades in foods and drinks (e.g., confectionery, beverages, dairy products, desserts) as a stable natural colorant.

  1. What food has red dye 3?

    In countries where azorubine (E122, also called carmoisine) is allowed, it’s used in sweets and gummies, cakes and biscuits, dessert mixes/puddings, jams/jellies, syrups and flavored drinks, and in heat-treated fruit preparations for yogurts. It isn’t permitted in U.S. foods, and in the U.S. “Red Dye 3” usually refers to erythrosine (E127), a different additive.

  2. What food is red dye 3 in?

    Where permitted (e.g., EU/UK), azorubine (E122/carmoisine) appears in confectionery, baked goods, dessert mixes/puddings, jams/jellies, syrups, soft drinks, and heat-treated fruit preparations for yogurts. It’s not allowed in U.S. foods; in the U.S., “Red Dye 3” typically means erythrosine (E127), which is different.

  3. What food contains red dye 3?

    In regions that allow it, azorubine (E122/carmoisine) is used in candies, cakes/biscuits, dessert mixes and puddings, jams/jellies, syrups and flavored drinks, and heat-treated fruit preparations for yogurts. It’s not permitted in the U.S., where “Red Dye 3” commonly refers to erythrosine (E127), a separate colorant.

  4. What food have red dye 3?

    Foods that may contain azorubine (E122/carmoisine) where allowed include confectionery, baked goods, dessert mixes/puddings, jams/jellies, syrups, soft drinks, and heat-treated fruit preparations for yogurts. It isn’t approved in the U.S.; U.S. “Red Dye 3” generally means erythrosine (E127), which is different.

  5. What food has red 3?

    If you mean azorubine (E122/carmoisine), it’s used in sweets, cakes, dessert mixes/puddings, jams/jellies, syrups and flavored drinks, and heat-treated fruit preparations for yogurts in countries where it’s permitted. It’s not allowed in U.S. foods, and in the U.S. “Red 3” typically refers to erythrosine (E127), a different dye.