Vegans, did you know this about cookies and biscuits?

Question

Red dye carminic acid, used in most confectionary snacks and other foods are derived from the carcasses of the cochineal beetle?

This is not false information, read this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal#Dye

Knowing this, would you still eat anything with red dye carminic acid in it?

Answer 1

Yes, I know to avoid red food coloring in my food. You've provided some really great, informative links! That's cool!

As a vegan artist I have a very hard time with paint and pastel colors. It is nearly impossible for me to avoid using hidden animal derivatives, especially the cochineal beetle. I do the best I can, but I cannot stop being a painter.  

Why is it that humans will grind up anything, even sentient beings, and either eat it or use it in some other manor? Humans are the most savage animal.

Answer 2

Well we probably step on a few beetles a day. I'd hate to think of how many get killed when I mow the lawn. lol

Answer 3

I have a few vegan friends, does this mean since they eat cookies and such, they are not considered a vegan?

p.s wikipedia can sometimes be false information

Answer 4

haha my sister is not vegan but she's vegetarian!!!

hmmmmm...... I don't think she knew that, and I KNOW that I didn't!!!  :)   thanks

Answer 5

I only buy cookies that are

-dairy free

-free from artificial colours, preservatives, and sweeteners

-free from hydrogenated fats

I would not eat *anything* that has added dyes. I read the food label of everything.

(UK) The Foods Standards Agency says:

''It is illegal for the labelling information to include anything that is false or likely to mislead''. Basically, it is an offence for manufacturers to falsely label foods. So I'm pretty sure that when the ingredients list contain no dyes, you can trust it.

Answer 6

Vegans wouldn't really eat cookies or biscuits anyway (unless they got them from a vegan store,in which case,they wouldn't have red dye in them also),because cookies/cakes etc have egg in them.

But i've known for years that some red dye comes from beetles,we were told that in high school.

It's even in Cherry Coke a Cola too.

Not ALL red dye comes from that source,but some does.

Answer 7

the thing is that is off of wikipedia so you can't prove it is true and i can't prove it is false.

well i'll believe you now!!!

Answer 8

I find that carmine is more a more common coloring agent in cosmetics than in food (where red 40 is more common.)  But, of course, I avoid any products with carmine listed as an ingredient.

Answer 9

Yes, as a vegetarian of some twenty odd years I know all about the pitfalls added to food...gelatine, cochineal and whey powder being some of the worse ones.  Here in the UK food is generally labeled extremely well, and most food is labeled if it is suitable for veggies or not (but not so for vegans).  Basically if it is wrapped at all, and the wrapper doesn't state "suitable for vegetarians", or have the Vegetarian Society's leaf symbol on it, then it is not going to be bought by a veggie!

Answer 10

As an organic vegan, I have come to the conclusion that I have to make all of my own food. I do not like to trust companies to make sure the food I ingest and take into my body is pure and healthy for me. The stuff I do buy from companies is basic foods: whole grains, sprouted grain flours, oil, sucanat (fair trade even), and even rice milk (look on label for no added vitamins or minerals). It has been along time since I have eaten cookies, but I do eat my own home made biscuits with my home made seiten stew.

Answer 11

hmmm...im not a vegan but thats interesting