Texans, meet the cochineal—an insect used to dye some of your favorite red and pink foods. It’s natural, it’s tiny, and yes..

A dye extracted from crushed bugs might sound archaic, but it is surprisingly ubiquitous. Cochineal—parasitic insects that ...

As food companies face pressure to eliminate artificial dyes, experts weigh in on the natural alternatives that could replace them.

U.S. health officials announced plans to persuade food companies to voluntarily eliminate petroleum-based artificial dyes by the end of 2026.

The Food and Drug Administration allows about three dozen color additives ... the use of cochineal, an insect about the size of a peppercorn. The female insects release a vibrant red pigment ...

A change to natural colors may not be fast The Food ... color with a natural source might require the use of cochineal, an insect about the size of a peppercorn. The female insects release a ...

The FDA banned red No. 3 in January, effective for food on January ... version of a dye.) Cochineal dyes are from the tiny dried and crushed bodies of female cochineal insects mostly and easily ...

About 70,000 cochineal insects ... U.S. food supply, the shift may well start at Abby Tampow's laboratory desk. On an April afternoon, the scientist hovered over tiny dishes of red dye, each ...