Source: https://verify-veg.com/blog/cochineal-vs-beet-juice/
Language: en

# Carmine vs Beet Juice: Natural Red Food Dyes Compared

A red yogurt, a red candy, a red lipstick. The color looks the same, but the ingredient behind it
could be an insect or a plant. Carmine and beet juice are both called "natural" red dyes, and they
could not be more different in source.

> **Key Takeaways**
> - Carmine is made from crushed cochineal insects, so it is not vegan or vegetarian.
> - Beet juice is made from beetroot, so it is plant-based and vegan.
> - Carmine holds a vivid, stable red; beet juice is softer and can fade with heat.
> - On a label, carmine appears as carmine, cochineal extract, E120 or Natural Red 4.

**TL;DR: Carmine and beet juice are both "natural" red dyes, but carmine comes from insects and
beet juice comes from plants.** For a vegan, beet juice is the safe choice.

## The two sources

- **Carmine** is extracted from the dried, crushed bodies of the cochineal insect. It is an animal product.
- **Beet juice** is extracted from beetroot. It is a plant product.

Both are "natural" in the regulatory sense, which is why the word on a package tells you nothing
about whether the dye is vegan.

## Why manufacturers choose one over the other

Carmine wins on color performance. It produces a vivid, stable red that holds up to heat, light and
time, which is why it is the classic choice for red candies, yogurts and drinks. The downside is
the source, plus the fact that a small number of people have allergic reactions to it.

Beet juice is the plant alternative, but it has trade-offs. It gives a softer, pinker red, and it
can fade or turn brown when heated. That is why you see it more in refrigerated products and less
in baked goods. For a vegan, the color trade-off is worth it.

## Other plant reds

Beet juice is not the only plant option. These also produce red:

- **Anthocyanins (E163)**, from grapes, berries and purple carrot
- **Lycopene (E160d)**, from tomatoes
- **Paprika and carotene**, for orange-red

These give manufacturers a plant-based red across a range of shades.

## How to tell them apart on a label

1. Look for carmine, cochineal, cochineal extract, E120 or Natural Red 4. These are the insect dye.
2. Look for beet juice, beetroot, betanin or E162. These are plant-based.
3. Look for anthocyanins (E163) or lycopene (E160d) as other vegan options.
4. Scan the product. A scanner app flags carmine and other animal-derived dyes against your diet.

See our [E-numbers cheat sheet](/blog/e-numbers-vegan-list/) for the full list of animal-derived
additives.

## The bottom line

Two natural reds, two very different sources. Carmine is the insect dye and is not vegan; beet
juice is the plant dye and is. If you want a red that is also vegan, look for beet juice,
anthocyanins or lycopene, and let a scanner catch the carmine.

**Check before you eat.** The Verify Veg app scans a barcode or reads an ingredient list from a
photo and flags ingredients against your diet (vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, Jain and more).
[Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verifyveg-vegan-scanner/id6758276834) -
Android is coming soon.

*Written by Samir Narain, founder of Verify Veg. Verify Veg helps people check packaged food
against their diet by scanning barcodes and reading ingredient lists from photos.*

*Note: Verify Veg provides ingredient-based compatibility checks, not certification. Ingredient
sources can vary by manufacturer, so always confirm with the brand or vendor.*