Carmine, Cochineal, E120, and Red Food Coloring - Jurisprudential Answers - Miscellaneous Issues, Vol 4

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Question 58

What is the ruling on red coloring derived from the carmine insect and used in food products to give red, pink and related colors, including children's sweets, juices, cake and some meats such as mortadella? Ingredients may identify it as E120, RED40, cochineal or carmine, and sometimes products instead say only that the red color is from ‘natural substances.’ Some products no longer list the familiar names, and the coloring appears to affect only color rather than taste. As I understand it, the insect may simply be ground and mixed with water rather than chemically transformed, and black particles from the insect can sometimes be visible. May such products be eaten or drunk, or used externally, for example in red lip balm or women's lipstick when a small amount may sometimes be swallowed?

Source: Jurisprudential Answers - Miscellaneous Issues, Vol 4; Author: Imam Ahmed Al-Hasan; Question 58; Page Not available; FIQH-MISC-V4-Q058. View Arabic source · Open the original Arabic source ↗