Information › Ingredients › Carmine (E120)
Carmine (E120): the red colouring made from insects
Updated on 4 November 2026
At a glance
- Kind
- Ingredient, not an allergen
- Also as
- karmijn, E120, cochenille
- Without carmine (E120)
- 41,419 products
- Contain it
- 505 products
- Supermarkets
- AH, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet
What is carmine (E120)?
Carmine (E120), also called cochineal, is a red colouring made from scale insects. So it is not vegetarian, and it is in some sweets, drinks and cured meats.
Recognise
On a Dutch label as
- karmijn
- E120
- cochenille
May also be it
- ‘red colouring’ (rode kleurstof) without a name
Not carmine (E120)
- beetroot red (E162)
- paprika extract (E160c)
We look for these Dutch words in the ingredient list itself, also between brackets. If in doubt, read the pack.
Shopping
Per shelf where carmine (E120) is common (the shops’ own Dutch shelf names)
Examples without carmine (E120)
- Kwinkslag puur-vanilleVenz · 400 gHoogvliet € 3,66Albert Heijn € 3,69 2e ½Jumbo € 3,69PLUS € 3,69Contains: Cow's milk, Gluten, Lactose, Milk, Soy
- Choco vlokkenChoca · 200 gHoogvliet € 1,95Albert Heijn € 1,99 2e ½Jumbo € 1,99PLUS € 1,99Contains: Gluten, SoyMay contain traces: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk
- Royale hagelDe Ruijter · 390 gHoogvliet € 6,36Albert Heijn € 6,49 2e ½Jumbo € 6,49PLUS € 6,49Contains: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk, SoyMay contain traces: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk
- VlokmixChoca · 200 gHoogvliet € 1,95Albert Heijn € 1,99 2e ½Jumbo € 1,99PLUS € 1,99Contains: Cow's milk, Gluten, Lactose, Milk, Soy
- Specials intens puurDe Ruijter · 200 gHoogvliet € 3,99Albert Heijn € 4,39 2e ½Jumbo € 4,39PLUS € 4,39Contains: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk, SoyMay contain traces: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk
- BananenspltVenz · 200 gHoogvliet € 2,67Albert Heijn € 2,69 2e ½Jumbo € 2,69PLUS € 2,69Contains: Cow's milk, Gluten, Lactose, Milk, Soy
All 41,419 products without carmine (E120) (in Dutch)
Which supermarket has the most without?
On the shelves where carmine (E120) is common: the share of products without it.
- Hoogvliet76%31 of 41
- PLUS72%129 of 178
- Albert Heijn63%26 of 41
Brands without carmine (E120)
On the shelves where carmine (E120) is common, none of their products names it.
What to look for in the shop
- Read the ingredient list: it is there by its Dutch name or its E number, the same in every language.
- Watch compound ingredients between brackets: it is sometimes in there.
Good to know
Recently without carmine (E120) (4)These products named carmine (E120) on an earlier label, and no longer do.
What is carmine (E120) mostly in?Most often in the shelves ‘Droge worst’ (33% contains it), ‘Regio zuid vleeswaren’ (37% contains it) and ‘Chocolade bites, chocolade pinda's’ (20% contains it).
Most often in the shelves ‘Droge worst’ (33% contains it), ‘Regio zuid vleeswaren’ (37% contains it) and ‘Chocolade bites, chocolade pinda's’ (20% contains it). There is choice without it there too: 64 products on ‘Droge worst’, for example.
How does carmine (E120) read on a Dutch label?As karmijn, E120 and cochenille.
As karmijn, E120 and cochenille. We look for those words in the ingredient list itself, also in compound ingredients between brackets.
How many products contain carmine (E120)?505 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 1%.
505 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 1%. The other 41,419 do not name it.
Which supermarket has the most products without carmine (E120)?On the shelves where carmine (E120) is common: Hoogvliet (76% without), PLUS (72% without) and Albert Heijn (63% without).
On the shelves where carmine (E120) is common: Hoogvliet (76% without), PLUS (72% without) and Albert Heijn (63% without).
Is E120 vegan?No.
No. E120 is made from cochineal insects, so it is neither vegan nor vegetarian.
A choice of your own, not an allergy
Carmine (E120) is not an allergen: whether you eat or use it is up to you. We show what the ingredient list says, so you can choose. Recipes change: if in doubt, the pack in your hand decides.
More ingredients under Ingredients; allergens under Allergies.
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