By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS
The Vegetarian Useful resource Group acquired an e-mail inquiry from a reader asking us to substantiate whether or not Iberia Aloe Vera Strawberry Beverage comprises insect-derived carmine. She famous that the red-toned drink was labeled vegan together with all the opposite flavors bought in green-colored bottles.
We contacted the corporate in June 2025. The Workplace supervisor at Iberia Meals informed us that vegan seems on the label of all of the aloe vera drinks. The one one which comprises carmine, an insect-derived pink coloring, is the strawberry selection. On the time of the decision, she wasn’t certain if new labels had been to be printed with out the phrase vegan for the strawberry taste, or if the beverage had been to be reformulated with out carmine. As soon as she came upon, she’d tell us.
The subsequent day, we acquired a voicemail informing us that new labels had been being printed with out the phrase vegan for the strawberry drink. It will take a while earlier than the brand new labels would seem on the beverage.
As a follow-up, The VRG emailed about firm plans to take away carmine from their strawberry beverage. They replied: “As defined beforehand, now we have stopped printing labels that state vegan on account of carmine being one of many components. I wasn’t knowledgeable of any substitutions. It would stay the identical components.”
Petrochemical Dyes vs Pure Colorants on Ingredient Labels
The April 2025 announcement by the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers and the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration of the phase-out of eight petrochemical-based artificial dyes – together with FD&C Pink No. 40 – from meals, drinks, prescription drugs and different merchandise is the most recent clear label regulation in a rising variety of nations.
To exchange the artificial dyes, the FDA not too long ago introduced the approval of three pure colorants, although none of them supplies the brilliant pink hue attribute of many meals and drinks similar to Iberia Meals’ Aloe Vera Strawberry drink. These accepted are vegan.
As The VRG reported in 2009, the FDA requires obligatory labeling of all meals and drinks containing carmine or cochineal extract due to the opportunity of extreme allergic reactions to them. Nonetheless, the insect supply doesn’t have to be specified.
Carmine Market 2023-2033
Elevated demand for carmine as a pure pink colorant is projected to extend considerably from $50.8 billion in 2023 to $91.8 billion in 2033. Peru, Mexico, and Chile are the highest business carmine exporters. It takes roughly 70,000 feminine beetles to yield one pound of carmine.
Carmine Substitutes and Insect-Free Carmine
In 2013, The VRG reported on plant-derived lycopene and anthocyanin, vegan substitutes for carmine. Microbial manufacturing of a number of completely different meals colorings can be well-liked.
Rising pink colorant yields by means of conventional fermentation or through precision fermentation utilizing fungal or bacterial genes, a few of which produce the identical carminic acid present in beetles, is a quickly rising space of analysis.
In these circumstances, insect-free carmine is vegan.
In the event you ought to spot insect-free carmine or vegan carmine on an ingredient label, please tell us at [email protected].
The contents of this posting and our different publications, together with Vegan Journal, aren’t meant to supply private medical recommendation. Medical recommendation needs to be obtained from a professional well being skilled. We regularly depend upon product and ingredient info from firm statements. It’s inconceivable to be 100% certain a few assertion, data can change, folks have completely different views, and errors may be made. Please use your greatest judgment about whether or not a product is appropriate for you. To make sure, do additional analysis or affirmation by yourself.
