Baby Safety / Compounds / Carmine

Is Carmine safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Carmine, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

What is carmine?

The IUPAC name is cochineal extract carminic acid.

Also known as: cochineal extract carminic acid, B Rose liquid, 3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-dioxo-7-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]anthracene-2-carboxylic acid, Carmine (Coccus cacti L.).

IUPAC name
cochineal extract carminic acid
CAS number
1390-65-4
Molecular formula
C22H20O13
Molecular weight
492.39 g/mol
SMILES
CC1=C2C(=CC(=C1C(=O)O)O)C(=O)C3=C(C2=O)C(=C(C(=C3O)O)C4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O
PubChem CID
14749

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Carmine, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Carmine, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Carmine. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
FDA——
EMA——
ECHA——

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter carmine

  • red food coloring
  • beverages
  • yogurt
  • candies
  • cosmetics

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Carmine:

  • Beetroot red (betanin, E162)
    Trade-offs: Less heat-stable. pH-sensitive (best in acid). Earthy flavor at high levels.
    Relative cost: Similar
  • Anthocyanin extracts (grape skin, elderberry)
    Trade-offs: Color shifts with pH (red in acid, blue in base). Lower tinctorial strength.
    Relative cost: 1.5-2×

Frequently asked questions

What products contain carmine?

Carmine appears in: red food coloring; beverages; yogurt.

See Carmine in the baby app

Look up products containing carmine, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 1390-65-4 — reference

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →