Is carmine vegan?​

Carmine or cochineal extract is not vegan. It's a pigment made by drying, crushing and boiling the bodies of cochineal beetles. It is frequently used to add color to food, clothes and cosmetics.

A vegan dietitian reviewed this note on carmine for Fig. Check if other ingredients are vegan with the free Fig app!

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Instantly check if an ingredient is vegan​

Scan a product and Fig will highlight ingredients that may not be vegan. Click any ingredient like carmine to read why it may or may not be vegan.

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Learn how to think about ingredients like carmine​

There are more than 500 ingredients to avoid on a vegan diet. Some ingredients like beef and pork are clearly not vegan; however, others are not as obvious. This is especially true of additives or vague ingredients like "natural flavors."

When in doubt, look for certified vegan labels on products. You can also contact food manufacturers directly to ask if specific products are vegan.

You can check other ingredients directly on the free Fig app.

We've done our best to ensure this note on carmine is accurate. If you find any inaccuracies, please let us know at support@foodisgood.com. We live with dietary restrictions ourselves, and we're committed to creating the most accurate database of ingredients that we can.