Ingredients & E-Codes Is Carmine (E120) Kosher? What the Dye Really Is
Carmine is not kosher. It is a red dye made from crushed cochineal insects, and since kosher law forbids eating insects, no reliable certifying agency will approve a product that contains it. The hard part is spotting carmine on a label, because it hides under several different names.
Ingredients & E-Codes Is Carmine (E120) Kosher? The Insect Dye Question
Carmine, listed as E120, is not kosher. It is a red pigment made from the dried bodies of cochineal insects, and insects are not among the creatures kosher law permits. If a label lists carmine, cochineal, or carminic acid, treat the product as non-kosher unless a trusted hechsher says otherwise.
