By Thomas Wong
There is a popular urban legend that goes like this:
A man sits down for lunch at his favourite restaurant and orders his usual soup. When the man gets his soup, he realizes that there is something in it. After closer inspection, he notices that it’s a dead fly! Disgusted, he calls over the manager and complains. The manager apologizes and the man gets a free lunch.
YOU’VE EATEN ONE TOO
Aside from showing how claiming that there is a fly in your food will get you a free meal, this story illustrates how most of us would be sick to our stomach to discover something like that in our food. Interestingly, chances are you’ve already had an insect in your food many times and just didn’t know it.
BOILED, DRIED WHAT?
Carmine or cochineal extract is a commonly used ingredient for producing colour-fast reddish and orange hues in many food products. It is relatively inexpensive and used in a wide variety of things such as fruit drinks, yogurts, ice creams and candies. There’s just one other, interesting detail about it: it’s extracted from boiled, dried insects! Apparently, we humans have been exploiting its use since the time of the Aztecs. In the past, the ingredient was listed as either “artificial colour” or “colour added” on food packaging. However, a new regulation effective January 5, 2009, required manufacturers to list the ingredient as either “carmine” or “cochineal” extracts.
SO WHAT’S REALLY BUGGING YOU?
According to medical documentation cited by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, carmine extracts have been found to produce allergic reactions such as sneezing, hives and headaches in some individuals. However, the United States Food and Drug Administration agency (FDA) has not banned its use. Instead, the FDA states that it has found no evidence of a “significant hazard” to the general population. That doesn’t mean though that we can’t still think it’s gross!
SPOT THE BUG
Carmine or cochineal can sometimes be found in these products:
– Ice cream
– Strawberry milk
– Maraschino cherries
– Lipstick
– Eye shadow
– Eyeliners
– Nail polishes
– Fruit drinks
– Candy