CARMINES

Carmines are also utilized in pharmaceuticals as a coloring agent in syrups, tablets, and capsules.
Carmines have been used extensively in textile dyeing, producing vibrant and long-lasting red fabrics.
Carmines are also used in artistic and biological staining applications.

CAS Number: 1390-65-4
EC Number: 215-724-4
E number: E120 (colours)
Molecular Formula: Typically represented as C₂₂H₂₀O₁₃ (for carminic acid, the main component)
Molecular Weight: ~492.39 g/mol (carminic acid basis)

SYNONYMS:
Systematic IUPAC name: aluminium,calcium,1-methyl-3,5,6,8-tetraoxido-9,10-dioxo-7-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]anthracene-2-carboxylate, carmine red, cochineal, crimson lake, carmine lake, Natural Red 4, C.I. 75470, Carmine, Cochineal, Cochineal Extract, Carminic Acid Lake, Natural Red 4, CI 75470, E120, Crimson Lake, C.I. Natural Red 4, Karmin, Carmines, Carmine, 1390-65-4, 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.), Cochineal (Coccus cacti L.), Cochineal Dye, Dye, Cochineal, 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, RefChem:574680, DTXSID2044216, 7-glucopyranosyl-3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxyl-1-methyl-9,10-dioxoanthracene-2-carboxylic acid, 215-724-4, Carmine Red, ST069339, 7-[(5S,2R,3R,4R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)(2H-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropy ran-2-yl)]-3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-dioxoanthracene-2-carboxylic aci d, NSC326224, NCGC00091708-04, SCHEMBL34094, CHEMBL1366408, DGQLVPJVXFOQEV-NGOCYOHBSA-N, BDBM50404357, SBB012606, AKOS024283495, CCG-208345, SMP1_000058, NCGC00091708-01, NCGC00091708-02, NCGC00091708-05, NCGC00091708-06, NCGC00091708-07, 3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-dioxo-7-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydropyran-2-yl]anthracene-2-carboxylic acid, SR-05000002302, SR-05000002302-2, 2-Anthracenecarboxylic acid, 7-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-9,10-dihydro-3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-dioxo-, E120, Natural red 4, Crimson lake, Carmine lake, CI 75470, Cochineal extract, Cochineal, Carminic acid, Natural colorings

Carmines are a natural red dye obtained from the dried bodies of the female Dactylopius coccus insect.
Carmines have been used for centuries as a coloring agent in textiles, food, and cosmetics.
The primary coloring component of Carmines is carminic acid, which can be further processed to produce carmine pigments.

Unlike pure chemical substances, Carmines are a complex natural extract rather than a single defined compound.
Carmines are classified as a natural dye and are commonly labeled as E120 in the European Union.
Its composition variability distinguishes Carmines from pure compounds like carminic acid, making standardization an important factor in industrial use.

Carmines serve as the raw material for producing carmine pigments through complexation with metal ions such as aluminum or calcium.
This process significantly enhances color stability and expands Carmines's range of applications.
The production and the use of luxury colors and textiles were regulated in countries such as Spain and Italy.

Dyestuffs produced from the Carmines insect were used for dyeing the clothes of kings, nobles, and the clergy.
In 1454, Pope Paul II officially changed the color of the robes worn by Catholic cardinals from "Cardinal's purple" to vibrant red.
By 1558, their red robes would have been created with American Carmines.

By the 1600s, Carmines also gave the English "Redcoats" their distinctive officers' uniforms.
Carmine became strong competition for other colorants such as madder root, kermes, Polish Carmines, Armenian Carmines, brazilwood, and Tyrian purple.
Carmines became the most important insect dye used in the production of hand-woven oriental rugs, almost completely displacing lac.

Carmines was also used for handicrafts and tapestries.
Spanish influence also changed the way in which Aztecs used pigments, particularly in their manuscripts.
The use of Carmines in manuscripts was complemented by Spanish pigments like minium and.

The image of Moctezuma's death (seen to the right) uses both indigenous and Spanish pigments.
The scholar Diana Magaloni Kerpel argues that the presence of Carmines and minium in this 16th century image is representative of the transition and influence between cultures.
During the colonial period in Latin America, many indigenous communities produced Carmines under a type of contract known as Repartimiento de Mercancías.

This was a type of "contract forwarding" agreement, in which a trader lent money to producers in advance, with a "call option" to buy the product once it was harvested.
Communities with a history of Carmines production and export have been found to have lower poverty rates and higher female literacy, but also smaller indigenous populations.
The Carmines (/ˌkɒtʃɪˈniːl, ˈkɒtʃɪniːl/ KOTCH-in-EEL, -⁠eel, US also /ˌkoʊtʃɪˈniːl, ˈkoʊtʃɪniːl/ KOH-chin-EEL, -⁠eel; Dactylopius coccus) is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the natural dye carmine is derived.

A primarily sessile parasite native to tropical and subtropical South America through North America (Mexico and the Southwest United States), this insect lives on cacti in the genus Opuntia, feeding on plant moisture and nutrients.
The insects are found on the pads of prickly pear cacti, collected by brushing them off the plants, and dried.

The insect produces carminic acid that deters predation by other insects.
Carminic acid, typically 17–24% of dried insects' weight, can be extracted from the body and eggs, then mixed with aluminium or calcium salts to make carmine dye, also known as Carmines.
Today, carmine is primarily used as a colorant in food and in lipstick (E120 or Natural Red 4).

Carmine dye was used in the Americas for coloring fabrics and became an important export good in the 16th century during the colonial period.
Production of Carmines are depicted in the Codex Osuna (1565).
After synthetic pigments and dyes such as alizarin were invented in the late 19th century, the use of natural-dye products gradually diminished.

Fears over the safety of artificial food additives renewed the popularity of Carmines dyes, and the increased demand has made cultivation of the insect profitable again, with Peru being the largest producer, followed by Mexico, Chile, Argentina, and the Canary Islands.
Other species in the genus Dactylopius can be used to produce "Carmines extract", and are extremely difficult to distinguish from D. coccus, even for expert taxonomists; the scientific term D. coccus and the vernacular 

"Carmines insect" are sometimes used, intentionally or casually, and possibly with misleading effect, to refer to other species.
Carmines are one of the few water-soluble colorants that resist degradation with time.
Carmines are one of the most light- and heat-stable and oxidation-resistant of all the natural organic colorants and are even more stable than many synthetic food colors.

Carmines are considered safe enough for cosmetic use in the eye area.
Because it has a complicated structure involving multiple chemical groups, it is very difficult to create a synthetic molecule for Carmines.
In 1991, Carmines was first synthesized in the laboratory by organic chemists.

In 2018, researchers genetically engineered the fungus Aspergillus nidulans to produce Carmines; the bacterium Escherichia coli was engineered to produce carminic acid in 2021.
Carmines, a tiny, cactus-dwelling insect that produces a vibrant red pigment, was harvested for thousands of years by Indigenous peoples to produce a dye for their own textiles.
Following the Spanish invasion of the Americas, Carmines ultimately became a globally traded commodity.

In Europe, Carmines's red became the color of power, tinting the red coats of English soldiers and the Catholic clergy’s capes.
Carmines's commerce transformed the world of textiles, art, and trade, but at the expense of the Indigenous knowledge systems and labor that brought it to bear in the first place.
This is a story of how a color changed the world, and how the world exploited a resource.

Carmines, red dyestuff consisting of the dried, pulverized bodies of certain female scale insects, Dactylopius coccus, of the Coccidae family, cactus-eating insects native to tropical and subtropical America.
The insects are carefully brushed from the cacti into bags and are then killed by immersion in hot water or by exposure to sunlight, steam, or the heat of an oven.
Much of the variety in the appearance of commercial Carmines is caused by the differing modes of treatment.

It takes 70,000 insects to make one pound of Carmines.
The Carmines color goes by many different names, such as carmine, Natural Red 4, and E1201.
Carmines comes from a minuscule, parasitic insect that feeds off the prickly pear cactus that grows throughout much of the Americas.

The female insects attach themselves to a prickly pear cactus pad and create a fuzzy, cocoon-like structure.
Where they will remain for the rest of their lives.
In contrast, the male Carminess do not permanently attach themselves to a cactus pad; instead, they remain small and mobile.

Because the female Carminess do not move, they require some sort of protection from predators.
To this effect, the female Carminess produce carminic acid, which acts as a natural form of insect repellent.

This acid is the ingredient responsible for the historical Carmines craze.
Raymond Lee, a noted historian, talks about Carmines processing in his book, Carmines Production and Trade in New Spain to 1600.

When speaking of their size and weight, Lee says, “Of almost microscopic size, 25,000 of these insects were generally required for a pound when freshly gathered.
After drying, 70,000 might be required, depending on the drying method employed.”
Each one of those thousands of insects had to be gathered by hand.

And hundreds of tons of Carmines were exported from the New World to the Old.
Many different methods were used to kill and dry the Carmines, such as boiling the insects, drying them in the sun, or steaming them.
Carmines’s fame has a long history that began long before Spain’s conquest of Mexico.

Before Hernando Cortes had even set foot on the continent, Carmines was being farmed by the native populations of the Americas.
There was a noteworthy market for Carmines in Aztec culture; it appeared in their art, clothes, and rituals.
Carmines was precious enough that it even served as a form of tribute for the last Aztec emperor, Montezuma II.

After Hernando Cortes conquered the Aztec kingdom in the early 1500s, Carmines was largely ignored for several decades.
At the time, the most brilliant red dye found in Europe was a dye known as European kermes.
After his conquest, Cortes learned of Carmines, and he mistook it for this other dye.

The king of Spain requested that Cortes bring as much of this “European kermes” as possible back to Spain, and, as it turns out, Cortes instead sent back the far more valuable and potent Carmines.
Cortes was ordered to send back the dyestuff in 1523, yet it was only after 1550 that Spain began to produce and sell Carmines in earnest.
Soon, Spain, which controlled most of the area where Carmines naturally grew, had established a thriving monopoly of Carmines and was exporting shiploads of it to Europe.

Carmines would be second only to silver as Spain’s most valuable export from the New World.
Humans throughout history have sought colors with which to decorate their clothes, buildings, ceremonial items, and even bodies.
In the past, some colors were incredibly difficult or expensive to create or reproduce.

That is why, in general, royalty or people of very high status would wear bright, unique colors, and the common people would be dressed in drab, earthy colors.
Historically, one of the hardest colors to find or produce was the color red.
This is the reason for Carmines’s importance.

Carmines are a deep, beautiful, lush red.
Carmines can come in a variety of colors, from a near-scarlet to a deep purple, depending on how they are processed and the presence of any additives.
In paintings, Carmines was often used as a glaze, which allowed it to quietly hide in the background instead of dazzling the audience with its powerful color.

At the time of Carmines’s discovery by Europe, there was no red dye that could compare to its brilliance and potency.
The closest thing to it was the weak European kermes, which Carmines are 10 to 12 times more powerful than.
This is why it became a literal treasure for the kingdom of Spain.

In order to maintain its monopoly on the valuable dye, Spain kept the details of Carmines a secret.
Ships bearing Carmines could only land at certain ports, and there was even a death sentence to discourage would-be smugglers.
Fortunately for Spain, most of the attempts to transplant Carmines ultimately failed.

Because Carmines was so secretive, many speculations arose about its true origins.
Many people incorrectly guessed that Carmines was some type of plant-based grain because of its common name, grana.
Because of the zealous guarding of this secret, Spain was able to maintain Carmines's monopoly for decades.

Eventually, Spain did lose its control over Carmines, but it did provide an important revenue for Spain for several centuries.
The Carmines business continued to thrive until the 1900s, when synthetic dyes, which were much cheaper and less labor-intensive than Carmines, began to be produced on a large scale.
Thus, Carmines gradually fell out of use.

In recent years, however, Carmines have begun to regain some of their original value, primarily as the key ingredient in the E120 colorant.
When it was realized that synthetic dyes in foods can be dangerous to humans, Carmines began to be used to dye many different types of foods.
Carmines have affected our modern world and economy in ways that we can never understand.

While it is now relatively unknown and unappreciated, Carmines was once important and precious to many of the ancestors of those who live in the Borderland region.
When I started this research, I was fascinated to learn that men throughout history lived and died for Carmines.
Carmines made me wonder if the things that we live and strive for will still be valued in five centuries.

Carmines are a natural, bright red dye obtained from the body of the female insects Dactylopius coccus Costa (formerly Coccus cacti) that live on nopal cactus (Cactus opuntia or C. coccinilifera) in Mexico, the Canary Islands, and in Central and South America.
Carmines was imported to Europe as early as 1540, where it quickly replaced kermes as the primary red dyestuff.

The insects are collected from the cacti, then killed and dried in the sun or in an oven.
Carmines are extracted from dried insects using water or alcohol.
Carmines contains about 10% carminic acid, 2% coccerin wax and 10% fat.

Carmines dye is the common name of a pigment obtained from the female insect Dactylopius coccus.
This is a sap insect that lives on the surface of plants and only feeds from sap – hence the name.
They usually look like a cottony fluff over the green plant surface.

Beetles, on the other hand, are a different species entirely – and can be recognized by their outer hard wing cases and a hard upper body.
The chemical name of the pigment that is extracted from the Carmines insect is called carminic acid – it is an anthraquinone, one of the many natural pigments found in plants and animals, and is part of the defense system of the insect – a vibrant deterrent that helps to protect it from ants, its natural predators.

USES and APPLICATIONS of CARMINES:
Carmines are widely used as a natural colorant in the food industry, particularly in beverages, confectionery, dairy products, sauces, and processed meats.
Carmines are favored in products requiring a natural label and stable red coloration under acidic conditions.
In cosmetics, Carmines is used in formulations such as lipsticks, blushes, and skincare products.

Carmines are also utilized in pharmaceuticals as a coloring agent in syrups, tablets, and capsules.
Historically, Carmines have been used extensively in textile dyeing, producing vibrant and long-lasting red fabrics.
Carmines are also used in artistic and biological staining applications.

Carmines continues to be used as a fabric dye, a cosmetic dye, and as a food coloring.
Carmines are also used in histology as a preparatory stain for the examination of tissues and carbohydrates.
As of 2005, Peru produced 200 tons of Carmines per year, and the Canary Islands produced 20 tons per year.

Chile and Mexico also export Carmines.
France is believed to be the world's largest importer, and Japan and Italy also import the insect.
Much of these imports are processed and re-exported to other developed economies.

As of 2005, the market price of Carmines was between US$50 and 80 per kilogram, while synthetic raw food dyes are available at prices as low as $10–20 per kilogram.
Natural Carmines used in food and cosmetics can render the product unacceptable to vegetarian or vegan consumers.
Many Muslims consider Carmines-containing food forbidden (haraam) because the dye is extracted from insects, and all insects except the locust are haram in Islam.

Jews also avoid food containing this additive, though Carmines are not treif, and some authorities allow its use because the insect is dried and reduced to powder.
The water-soluble form, Carmines, is used in a wide variety of beverages; the insoluble form, carmine, is used in a wide variety of products.
They can be found in meat, sausages, processed poultry products (meat products cannot be colored in the United States unless they are labeled as such), surimi, marinades, alcoholic drinks, bakery products and toppings, cookies, desserts, icings, pie fillings, jams, preserves, gelatin desserts, juice beverages, varieties of cheddar cheese and other dairy products, sauces, and sweets.

A significant proportion of the insoluble Carmines produced is used in the cosmetics industry for hair- and skin-care products, lipsticks, face powders, rouges, and blushes.
A bright red dye and the stain Carmines used in microbiology is often made from the carmine extract, too.
The pharmaceutical industry uses Carmines to color pills and ointments.

Carmines-colored wool and cotton continue to be important materials for Mexican folk art and crafts.
Some towns in the Mexican state of Oaxaca continue to follow traditional practices of producing and using Carmines when making handmade textiles.
In Guatemala, Heifer International has partnered with local women who wished to reintroduce traditional artisanal practices of Carmines production and use.

Carmines are used to produce scarlet, crimson, orange, and other tints and to prepare pigments such as lake and carmine.
Carmines was introduced into Europe from Mexico, where it had been used long before the coming of the Spaniards.
Carmines have been replaced almost entirely by synthetic dyes, but it continues to be used principally as a colouring agent in cosmetics and beverages.

Its dyeing power is attributed to Carminesin, or carminic acid, obtained by boiling Carmines in water.
Carmines also contains glyceryl myristate (a fat) and coccerin (Carmines wax).
Carmines were used in many parts of the European economy.

One notable use was as a dye for the famous British “redcoats”.
The regular soldiers’ uniforms were usually dyed with cheaper dyes, but the officers’ uniforms mainly used the expensive Carmines.
Carmines was also used in many of the famous art pieces of Europe.

Many paintings by famous artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt van Rijn, Antony van Dyck, and others all used Carmines.
Often, it is known that a certain artist used Carmines in their works, but it can be difficult to tell which pieces contain it without destroying the art.
Carmines can be found in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and are often used in foods such as yogurts, meats, ice cream, smoothies, and chocolate.

In fact, you might be surprised to learn that you have been consistently eating crushed bugs for years.
Carmines were usually used as either a red solution or precipitated to make carmine, an aluminum or aluminum-tin lake.
Carmines produces a transparent lake pigment that has poor lightfastness and fades in strong sunlight.

USE CARMINES AS PIGMENT:
Prior to the Spanish invasion, Aztecs also used Carmines pigments in their manuscripts.
The 16th-century Florentine Codex contains a variety of illustrations with multiple variations of the red pigments.
Specifically in the case of achiotl (light red), technical analysis of the paint reveals multiple layers of Carmines although the layering of the pigment is not visible to the naked eye.

Therefore, Carmines proves that the process of applying multiple layers is more significant in comparison to the actual color itself.
Furthermore, the process of layering the various hues of the same pigment on top of each other enabled the Aztec artists to create variations in the intensity of the subject matter.
A bolder application of pigment draws the viewer's eye to the subject matter, which commands attention and suggests a power of the viewer.

A weaker application of Carmines commands less attention and has less power.
This would suggest that the Aztec associated the intensity of pigments with the idea of power and life.
Pigments are insoluble finely ground particles which are mixed with a liquid to make a paint.

To be useful as a pigment, a substance should be insoluble in the vehicle with which it is mixed, in contrast to a dye which is soluble.
The activity of carmines can vary widely depending on their preparation and composition: they tend to be unstable and can vary in solubility depending on pH.
Recipes for artists' use of crimson appear in many early painting and alchemical handbooks throughout the Middle Ages.

Red lake pigments were known to be particularly unstable as early as the 1400s.
When Carmines lakes were introduced in Europe, artists soon found that they were not light-fast.
The paint turns brown and fades in sunlight, although it is somewhat more permanent if mixed with oil rather than watercolor.

As a result, carmine's use as a pigment was discouraged: Carmines's primary use was as a dye rather than in paints.
Beautiful and rich as are the colours prepared from Carmines, not one of them should ever find a place upon the palette of the artist.
They all become brownish and ultimately almost disappear after a short exposure to sunlight or the more prolonged attack of strong diffused daylight.

A LONG HISTORY OF USE of CARMINES:
The use of this pigment is ancient – Carmines are native to the Americas and known by many pre-Columbian cultures like the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas (learn more about the history here).
There is evidence of its use in textiles as early as 2000 BCE.
The processed form of the pigment, carmine, was exported to Europe during the renaissance and commercialized at astronomical prices, replacing another insect-derived red pigment called Crimson.
Carmines was used in paintings by famous artists like Tintoretto, Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Velazquez.

To obtain the colour Carmines, the insects are “farmed” on the surface of nopales, or cactuses, where they grow feeding exclusively from sap.
Once the females are mature, they are harvested and the dye is extracted using hot water.
It is further processed to purify, isolate, and formulate Carmines for its diverse uses: as a solid lake or as a water-soluble dye.
The industrial use of these colours has helped to develop sustainable, productive models for indigenous people in South and Mesoamerica and to fight desertification by promoting the cultivation of the cacti in drylands.

Carmines are one of the few natural and water-soluble colorants that resist degradation with time.
Carmines are the most light- and heat-stable and oxidation-resistant of all the natural colorants and are even more stable than some synthetic food colours.

Carmines it is neither toxic nor known to be carcinogenic.
However, Carmines can induce an anaphylactic-shock reaction in a small number of people, due to impurities in the preparation, not due to the carminic acid.

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES of CARMINES:
Carmines typically appear as a dark red to deep brown powder or granular material.
Carmines are generally odorless or may have a faint organic odor.
Carmines are partially soluble in water, forming a red solution, while full solubility depends on processing and purity.
Carmines are more soluble in alkaline solutions due to the ionization of carminic acid.

As a natural mixture, Carmines contains carminic acid along with proteins, lipids, and inorganic salts.
Carmines' chemical behavior is largely governed by carminic acid, which is an anthraquinone derivative.
Carmines exhibits pH-dependent color variation, appearing orange-red in acidic conditions and shifting toward purple or violet in alkaline environments.

Carmines shows moderate stability to heat and light compared to other natural dyes, but prolonged exposure to UV radiation, high temperatures, or oxidizing conditions can lead to degradation and fading.
The stability improves when converted into metal complexes (carmine).

CHARACTERISTICS AND PROPERTIES of CARMINES:
Carmines are valued for their strong coloring ability and natural origin.
Carmines provide a wide range of red shades depending on formulation conditions such as pH, concentration, and presence of metal ions.
Carmines are biodegradable and derived from renewable biological sources.

Carmines have relatively good compatibility with aqueous systems and emulsions.
However, Carmines's composition may vary depending on the source and extraction method, which can influence color intensity and stability.
The presence of proteins in raw Carmines may contribute to allergenic potential.

THE HISTORICAL PROCESS of CARMINES:
Carmine pigment was produced by indigenous peoples living in Mexico and Central America in ancient times.
Carmines insects found on "Opuntia" cacti in these regions were the primary source of carmine pigment.
Carmine pigment, due to its origins in Spanish conquests and trade, was later adopted by other European countries.
This pigment was used in many different applications, such as fabric dyeing, painting, and writing inks.

Carmines enjoyed great popularity in Europe and other regions for centuries.
Carmines became a preferred coloring agent, especially in the textile dyeing industry and in the work of painters.
Carmines became one of the most coveted products in the commercial world.

Carmines were Mexico's second most valuable export after silver.
With the development of chemistry in the 19th century, the use of synthetic dyes increased and they began to be used in industrial-scale coloring processes, replacing the natural carmine pigment.
Today, Carmines are still used as a natural colorant in some food products, cosmetics, and the textile industry.

Carmines are one of the oldest pigments used in the Americas, dating back to as early as the second century BC.
Carmines's red was symbolic of the gods, sun and blood, and employed in rituals of the Maya and Aztec peoples who traded it throughout Central and South America.

Indigenous people in the Mexican regions of Puebla, Tlaxcala and Oaxaca had systems for breeding and engineering Carmines insects for ideal traits to produce red paint pigments for coloring manuscripts and murals, and to dye cloth and feathers.
Following the Spanish invasion, Carmines was traded around the world, and its production became an industry that relied entirely on the expertise and labor of Indigenous Mexicans, though they were never acknowledged for it.

BENEFITS of CARMINES:
Carmines offers several benefits, including its natural origin, high tinctorial strength, and relatively good stability compared to many plant-based red dyes.
Carmines are effective at low concentrations and provide consistent coloration across different applications.
Carmines align with consumer demand for natural additives and can replace synthetic dyes in many formulations.
Additionally, Carmines's ability to form stable derivatives (such as carmine) enhances its versatility.

SAFETY AND USAGE of CARMINES:
Carmines are generally regarded as safe when used within regulatory limits.
However, Carmines are known to cause allergic reactions in some individuals.
These reactions may include skin irritation, respiratory symptoms, or, in rare cases, severe allergic responses such as anaphylaxis.

Due to its insect origin, Carmines may not be acceptable for vegetarians, vegans, or individuals with certain dietary or religious restrictions.
Regulatory authorities often require labeling to indicate Carmines's presence in food and cosmetic products.

From a handling perspective, exposure to dust should be minimized in industrial settings, and appropriate protective equipment should be used.
Carmines should be stored in a cool, dry place, protected from light and moisture to maintain stability.

ETYMOLOGY of CARMINES:
The noun is borrowed from Middle French cochenille (modern French cochenille), from Italian cocciniglia or Spanish cochinilla; further etymology uncertain, possibly from Latin coccineus, coccinus (“scarlet-dyed; scarlet in colour”) (whence Italian coccineo (“scarlet in colour”)) + Italian -iglia (suffix forming collective nouns), Spanish -illa (“diminutive suffix”).
Coccinus is derived from Ancient Greek κόκκῐνος (kókkĭnos, “scarlet; (figurative) blushing”, adjective), from κόκκος (kókkos, “kermes oak (Quercus coccifera); insect of the genus Kermes living on the oak; scarlet dye made from crushed kermes insects”) (possibly from Pre-Greek) + -ῐνος (-ĭnos, suffix forming adjectives).

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Carmines are not derived from Spanish cochinilla (“pill bug, especially the common pill bug (Armadillidium vulgare)”), a diminutive of cochina (“female pig, sow”) (from the animal’s shape), which coincidentally has the same spelling as cochinilla (“Carmines”).
The adjective is derived from the noun.

Carmines dye was once one of the most important colorants in the world.
Hundreds of tons of it were exported from the New World for use throughout Europe, yet now, in today’s age, it would be rare for someone to even know what “Carmines” is.

HISTORY of CARMINES:
Carmines was already used as a colour by the Aztec and Maya peoples of Central and North America.
Carmines were a commodity of much value, even comparable to gold.
Cities send bags of Carmines to the capital Tenochtitlán as a yearly contribution to the emperor.

The Spanish conquerors of Central America saw the value of the dye, which produced a much better colour than the dyes used in Europe at the time.
The dye, which at the time was mainly used in cosmetics and textiles and to a lesser extent in foods, became very popular in Europe.
Roman Catholic Cardinals robes were coloured with Carmines, as were the jackets of the British military.

Carmines was a highly prized product and was regularly traded on the London and Amsterdam Commodity Exchanges.
As its origins were not known to most Europeans, the American colonists bought their Carmines from Europe, instead directly from Mexico.
In the 19th century the insects were imported and grown on a large scale on the Canary Islands, and the Mexican monopoly came to an end.

In 1868, the Canary Islands exported six million pounds of Carmines, equivalent to 420.000.000.000 insects.
In addition, as a dye for textiles, Carmines became widely used as a food colouring.

Cakes, cookies, beverages, jam, jelly, ice cream, sausages, pies, dried fish, yogurt, cider, maraschino cherries and tomato products were brightened with it, as were chewing gum, pills and cough drops.
Cosmetic rouge was developed with Carmines as the main ingredient.
Carmines are still widely used in cosmetics.

The demand for Carmines fell sharply with the appearance on the market of alizarin crimson and many other artificial (food and textile) dyes discovered in Europe in the middle of the 19th century.
Trade in Carmines almost totally disappeared in the course of the 20th century, but in recent years Carmines have become commercially valuable again as many producers (and consumers) prefer natural colours over synthetic colours.

However, most consumers are unaware that the ‘natural colouring E120' refers to a dye that is derived from an insect.
Carmines are thus not suitable for vegetarians.

PREPARATION of CARMINES:
Carmines dyes are one of three groups of red insect dyes, all of which are anthraquinone derivatives.
The major color components in their respective chemical structures are carminic acid (in Carmines dyes), kermesic acid (in kermes dye) and laccaic acids (in lac dye).

Carminic acid is extracted from the female Carmines insects and is treated to produce carmine, which can yield shades of red such as crimson and scarlet.
The dried body of the female insect is 14–26% carminic acid.

Workers collect the female Carmines insects from their host plants.
The insects are killed by immersion in hot water or by exposure to sunlight, steam, or the heat of an oven.

Each method produces a different color that results in the varied appearance of commercial Carmines.
The insects must be dried to about 30% of their original body weight before they can be stored without decaying.
It takes about 70,000 insects to make 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) of Carmines dye.

The two principal forms of Carmines dye are Carmines extract, a coloring made from the raw dried and pulverised bodies of insects, and carmine, a more purified coloring made from the Carmines.
To prepare carmine, the powdered insect bodies are boiled in ammonia or a sodium carbonate solution, the insoluble matter is removed by filtering, and alum is added to the clear salt solution of carminic acid to precipitate the red aluminium salt.

Purity of color is ensured by the absence of iron.
Stannous chloride, citric acid, borax, or gelatin may be added to regulate the formation of the precipitate.
For shades of purple, lime is added to the alum.

HISTORY of CARMINES:
Pre-Columbian dye
Traditionally, Carmines were used by Indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica, including Mixtec, Zapotec, Aztec, and Otomi cultures, for coloring fabrics and amate paper.
Carmines dye was used as early as the second century BC.
People began to paint codices with Carmines as early as the thirteenth century.

Although Carmines could be harvested from wild species, people began to intentionally grow Carmines in gardens.
This semi-domesticated species had more dye, which made it more valuable to artists.

Carmines's importance in Mesoamerica is indicated by its prominence in tribute lists such as the Matrícula de Tributos.
Eleven towns in the Oaxacan province of Coixtlahuaca, conquered by the Aztec Empire in the 15th century, paid a yearly tribute of 2000 decorated cotton blankets and 40 bags of Carmines each.
One of these towns was called Nochistlan (today Asuncion Nochixtlan, after the Nahuatl term for Carmines, "nocheztli").

Inhabitants of Peru have been producing Carmines for textiles since early in the Middle Horizon period (600–1000 CE).
Carmines dye was extensively used in the Pre-Columbian era, often for ceremonial textiles and those worn by rulers.

Carmines bonds best with animal fibers rather than plant fibers and was most effective for dyeing wool from alpacas and other Camelidae, rabbit fur, and feathers.
Carmines was also used on cottons and plant-based fabrics, to less effect.

Some examples of early cloth have survived in extremely dry areas in Peru.
In addition, the use of Carmines are illustrated in drawings on codices and maps.
Production of Carmines dyes became well-developed under Nazca culture, and beautiful examples of woven cloth colored by Carmines remain from Moche and Wari culture.

PRODUCTION of CARMINES:
In 1777, French botanist Nicolas-Joseph Thiéry de Menonville, presenting himself as a botanizing physician, smuggled the insects and pads of the Opuntia cactus to Saint Domingue.
This particular collection failed to thrive and ultimately died out, leaving the Mexican monopoly intact.
After the Mexican War of Independence in 1810–1821, the Mexican monopoly on Carmines came to an end.
Large-scale production of Carmines emerged, especially in Guatemala and the Canary Islands; it was also cultivated in Spain and North Africa.

COMPETITION FROM ARTIFICIAL DYES OF CARMINES:
The demand for Carmines fell sharply in the middle of the 19th century, with the appearance of artificial dyes such as alizarin crimson.
This caused a significant financial shock in Spain as a major industry almost ceased to exist.
The delicate manual labour required for the breeding of the insect could not compete with the modern methods of the new industry, and even less so with the lowering of production costs.

The "tuna blood" dye (from the Mexican name for the Opuntia fruit) stopped being used and trade in Carmines almost totally disappeared in the course of the 20th century.
For a time, the breeding of Carmines was done mainly for the purposes of maintaining the tradition rather than to satisfy any sort of demand.
However, the product has become commercially valuable again.

One reason for the increasing interest in natural dyes is consumer concern over the possibility that some commercial synthetic red dyes and food colorings may be carcinogenic.
Being natural is not a guarantee of safety, but studies show that Carmines are neither carcinogenic nor toxic.
Carmines do, however, have a slight potential to trigger an allergic reaction.

COMPARABLE COLORS of CARMINES:
In Europe, there was no comparable red dye or pigment.
The closest color was Kermes (technically, crimson), one of the oldest organic pigments.
Carmines's key ingredient, kermesic acid, was also extracted from an insect, Kermes vermilio, which lives on Quercus coccifera oaks native to the Near East, and the European side of the Mediterranean Basin.
Kermes was used as a dye and a laked pigment in ancient Egypt, Greece, Armenia and the Near East.

PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL PROPERTIES of CARMINES:
Melting point 298–300 °C (568–572 °F; 571–573 K)
Solubility in water insoluble < pH 11
CAS Number 1390-65-4
ChemSpider 28296172
ECHA InfoCard 100.014.295 Edit this at Wikidata
E number E120 (colours)
Molecular Weight 492.4 g/mol
XLogP3-AA 0.5

Hydrogen Bond Donor Count 9
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count 13
Rotatable Bond Count 3
Exact Mass 492.09039069 Da
Monoisotopic Mass 492.09039069 Da
Topological Polar Surface Area 243 Ų
Heavy Atom Count 35

Formal Charge 0
Complexity 864
Isotope Atom Count 0
Defined Atom Stereocenter Count 5
Undefined Atom Stereocenter Count 0
Defined Bond Stereocenter Count 0
Undefined Bond Stereocenter Count 0

Covalently-Bonded Unit Count 1
Compound Is Canonicalized Yes
Appearance: Dark red to crimson powder or granular solid
Odor: Slight, characteristic
Odor threshold: Not available
pH: ~4.5 – 7.0 (aqueous solution, varies with processing)
Melting point / Freezing point: Not applicable (decomposes)
Initial boiling point and boiling range: Not applicable

Flash point: Not applicable (non-volatile solid)
Evaporation rate: Not applicable
Flammability (solid): Not highly flammable, but combustible under fire conditions
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: Not determined
Vapor pressure: Negligible
Vapor density: Not applicable
Relative density: ~1.5 – 1.7 (typical bulk estimate; varies)

Solubility:
Water: Soluble (forms red solution)
Organic solvents: Limited solubility
Partition coefficient (n-octanol/water): Not available (mixture)
Auto-ignition temperature: Not determined
Decomposition temperature: > 200 °C (approx., depends on composition)
Viscosity: Not applicable (solid)
Explosive properties: Not explosive
Oxidizing properties: Not oxidizing

FIRST AID MEASURES of CARMINES:
-Description of first-aid measures
*General advice:
Show this material safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
*If inhaled:
After inhalation: 
Fresh air.
*In case of skin contact: 
Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. 
Rinse skin with
water/ shower.
*In case of eye contact:
After eye contact: 
Rinse out with plenty of water. 
Call in ophthalmologist. 
Remove contact lenses.
*If swallowed:
After swallowing: 
Immediately make victim drink water (two glasses at most). 
Consult a physician.
-Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatment needed.
No data available

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES of CARMINES:
-Environmental precautions:
Do not let product enter drains.
-Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Cover drains. 
Collect, bind, and pump off spills. 
Observe possible material restrictions. 
Take up dry. 
Dispose of properly. 
Clean up affected area.

FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES of CARMINES:
-Extinguishing media:
*Suitable extinguishing media:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) 
Foam 
Dry powder
*Unsuitable extinguishing media:
For this substance/mixture no limitations of extinguishing agents are given.
-Further information:
Prevent fire extinguishing water from contaminating surface water or the ground water system.

EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION of CARMINES:
-Control parameters:
--Ingredients with workplace control parameters:
-Exposure controls:
--Personal protective equipment:
*Eye/face protection:
Use equipment for eye protection. 
Safety glasses
*Body Protection:
protective clothing
*Respiratory protection:
Recommended Filter type: Filter A 
-Control of environmental exposure:
Do not let product enter drains.

HANDLING and STORAGE of CARMINES:
-Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
*Storage conditions:
Tightly closed. 
Dry.

STABILITY and REACTIVITY of CARMINES:
-Chemical stability:
The product is chemically stable under standard ambient conditions (room temperature).
-Possibility of hazardous reactions:
No data available