Food labels to recognize bugs additives soon: FDA

Washington D.C., United States, January 7: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration may soon issue directives to get food manufacturers list down bug-based food colors used in their products, including candies, yogurt and fruit-flavored drinks.

Carmine, also known by several other names including E-120, is a bright red color that is obtained from crushed cochineal insects.

Cochineal, found in Mexico and South America, is a wingless female insect that has a beetle-type flat appearance.

The move, which will be enforced in two years time, came after a consumer advocacy group stressed the FDA that the additives be stated on food labels as many people, who consumed products containing the additive have developed food allergies.

Some of the reported cases have had fatal consequences due to the added color. The cochineal-derived color is also used in cosmetics including lipsticks. Hues and tints that include red color such as pinks, oranges and purples also contain this color.

Chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Schneider Children's Hospital, Dr. Andrew Adesman, said, "All food manufacturers are competing with each other and are trying to make their products more attractive. The reality is these food colorings serve no nutritional value. They're really there just for looks."

The FDA was directed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest to issue instructions to acknowledge bug-based dye on the food labels. However, numerous consumer groups are planning to initiate a move to ban insect derivatives like carmine.

Michael Jacobson, executive director of the center at Washington, D.C, said, "I don't know where the term 'bug juice' came from, but it's truer than most people think."

Jacobson explained that food manufacturers have been using phrases like "artificial colors" or "color added" for insect derivatives that are considered natural colors. Many consumers are unaware of the fact that labels that read E-120 or cochineal have an insect source.

"Ocean Spray used to use it in its Ruby Red Grapefruit juice, but has since stopped. It's hard to get a list of foods, but we know Dannon and Yoplait list it on their labels," quoted Jacobson.

In the ancient times, Mayans and Aztecs used cochineal color to dye fabrics. Now, the bugs are bred in South American countries including Peru in huge plantations and are sold in tons of quantity. They are known to fetch good price from food and cosmetics industry as the color is quite popular.

Jacobson noted that the FDA had been petitioned in July 1998 to bring in the new ruling by the center. "But the FDA moves very slowly. We submitted a 25-page document and maintained that carmine can cause severe allergic reactions, even life-threatening reactions," he lamented.