Carmine in yogurt (caution: may be gross)

[elegantlion]

After taking the gulliable test I was disgusted to find out what Carmine actually is. You can read this article (http://www.naturalnews.com/002043.html)for the details. Here's another one (http://money.aol.com/bw/general/canvas3/_a/whats-in-my-food/20060808141909990001)as well.

Yup, my Strawberry Activia yogurt has carmine in it. Maybe that explains why my cat loves it so much.

So maybe this isn't horrible to eat, but it is gross and I wish I'd known a long time ago.

[Jane in NC]

So maybe this isn't horrible to eat, but it is gross and I wish I'd known a long time ago.

But it is "natural" and, as one of the articles you mentioned suggested, if one wants "colored" food, one choices are crushed insects or a dye from a petrochemical. Lovely. Maybe less colorful processed food is in order--or more colorful "real" food like fruits and vegetables.

I subscribe to the Nutrition Action Newsletter from the Center for Science in the Public Interest so I can read about carmine and other luscious additives in the food supply. My son also reads the newsletter--and shuns a lot of processed food as a result.

Happy eating,
Jane

[elegantlion]

I subscribe to the Nutrition Action Newsletter from the Center for Science in the Public Interest so I can read about carmine and other luscious additives in the food supply. My son also reads the newsletter--and shuns a lot of processed food as a result.



Thanks for the information, I'm looking at their website now!

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

I subscribe to the Nutrition Action Newsletter from the Center for Science in the Public Interest so I can read about carmine and other luscious additives in the food supply. My son also reads the newsletter--and shuns a lot of processed food as a result.



Thanks for the information, I'm looking at their website now!

Remember this is in makeup, too. ;)

[Doran]

So, "Bug Juice" is more appropriately nicknamed than we realized, eh?

Give me bugs over chemical dyes anyday! :D

[Jenny in Atl]

So, "Bug Juice" is more appropriately nicknamed than we realized, eh?

Give me bugs over chemical dyes anyday! :D

Like I always tell my kids, it's just extra protein!

[elegantlion]

I agree, natural protein is better than red dye # whatever. I just never thought of myself as an exotic eater. I'm in the middle of reading "Crunchy Cons" and that hasn't helped the "eeww" factor in my food lately.

[Karin]

Well, I'd lean toward bugs over artificial colours, but I'd like to know more about the safetly of those bugs. While I don't knowingly eat insects, some cultures do, and if you are a Christian or are Jewish certain insects are included in the "clean" animals;) I'd rather have things like beet powder to make things pink. At least I know what beets are. Ideally, organic beet powder. Better yet, why not just leave the colour out? Why does strawberry yogurt need to be so pink in the first place? (for one eg.)

The one that grossed me out was the list of what's in animal feed. While I'm somewhat skeptical at this point (I didn't check it out), I wouldn't put it past some food corporations to do that if they could get away with it.

[hsmom]

My Yoplait states "colored with Carmine". I guess I could have went my whole life with out knowing that, but life goes on.

[Kim in Appalachia]

we just don't realize it, and they usually aren't put there for color. But why bugs have to be added when I would buy the food without them, I don't know. :confused: While it sounds gross, I don't think it's harmful. But I may check out that Newsletter....

[astrid]

But it is "natural" and, as one of the articles you mentioned suggested, if one wants "colored" food, one choices are crushed insects or a dye from a petrochemical. Lovely. Maybe less colorful processed food is in order--or more colorful "real" food like fruits and vegetables.

I subscribe to the Nutrition Action Newsletter from the Center for Science in the Public Interest so I can read about carmine and other luscious additives in the food supply. My son also reads the newsletter--and shuns a lot of processed food as a result.

Happy eating,
Jane

It sends me into anaphalactic shock. Beware--- Red 40 is also in many ready-made baked goods (used as a browning agent) most yogurts and in many processed chocolate products.

Just an fyi

Astrid

[abbeyej]

I"m highly allergic to carmine, which is also often listed as Red 40. It sends me into anaphalactic shock. Beware--- Red 40 is also in many ready-made baked goods (used as a browning agent) most yogurts and in many processed chocolate products.

Everything I've read says that carmine and red #40 are not the same. Red #40 is derived from coal. That's not to argue with your allergy to red #40! ... Just that red 40 and carmine are different red dyes with different sources.

[chiguirre]

I've known about carmine for a while and I always choose yogurt with it over one with artificial colorants. However, it's not kosher. In fact, that's how I found out about the bugs, I had a friend who kept kosher and told my why Strawberry yogurt wasn't. :tongue_smilie:

[Pencil Pusher]

It sends me into anaphalactic shock. Beware--- Red 40 is also in many ready-made baked goods (used as a browning agent) most yogurts and in many processed chocolate products.

Just an fyi

Astrid

Dh is pretty allergic to #40, but I'd never heard anything about carmine before the test. I'll have to pay attention to his reactions.... #40's pretty obvious w/ him, though not nearly as bad as for you!

Ick, though. Bugs. Ew. There are just so many things in life I don't want to know.

[8FillTheHeart]

We spend lots of time watching the discovery channel. I already knew about carmine from that. My 16 yos is fascinated with the new extreme food show (I think the food channel). He is all up for eating things like scorpions and head cheese. My tastes are definitely less "exotic."

[percytruffle]

Like I always tell my kids, it's just extra protein!


We say the same thing here! I've read before that the averge person eats about 40 bugs in their lifetime. I'm just making sure I reach my quota. :lol:

[astrid]

Everything I've read says that carmine and red #40 are not the same. Red #40 is derived from coal. That's not to argue with your allergy to red #40! ... Just that red 40 and carmine are different red dyes with different sources.

Eleven years ago, when I developed my allergy, the two were often mixed, and the label "Red colorant" slapped on. So I had no way of knowing whether it was carmine or Red 40. Since they're both naturally derived, way back then, the companies were not required to label them specifically. Now, if it's Red 40, it must say "FD&C Red #40" or "Red 40" if it's actually the coal derivation and not the bug derivation. But seriously, given the carelessness of many food corporations, and the fact that my allergy is incredibly, life-threateningly severe, I"m not going to chance it.

[abbeyej]

But seriously, given the carelessness of many food corporations, and the fact that my allergy is incredibly, life-threateningly severe, I"m not going to chance it.

Oh, absolutely, I get that. ... Though I do think that just in the last few years, fear of lawsuits and an increasing awareness of life-threatening allergies has made companies better about this. (Notice I merely said, "better", lol...)

But for accuracy's sake in this discussion, I think people should know that "red #40" and "carmine" are different things -- even if there's definitely wisdom in avoiding both, if one has reason to be deeply concerned about either.

[Karin]

We spend lots of time watching the discovery channel. I already knew about carmine from that. My 16 yos is fascinated with the new extreme food show (I think the food channel). He is all up for eating things like scorpions and head cheese. My tastes are definitely less "exotic."

Head cheese is extreme food;)? While I could never bring myself to eat it, the couple of times my parents had a sucking pig (to prepare the soil for an awesome garden and then for meat--actually, they and 3 friends each had one, so they got some large gardens out of it as they all lived in our yard.) my mother made head cheese. It's just something they did on their farm when she was growing up. I guess nowadays it might be considered extreme, but it used to be normal.

Now, for the next tidbit, Aubrey and others may not wish to read this (I didn't want to know it, but have adjusted--there are worse things)...














As for tiny crawling things, apparently we swallow tiny spiders that crawl into our mouths when we're sleeping.

[Laura Corin]

Has a range of bugs and grubs available as snacks.

Laura

[Karin]

Has a range of bugs and grubs available as snacks.

Laura

I'm not at all surprised. Many parts of the world eat this on a regular or treat basis. That said, I'm past the age of being willing to try it. When I was in my 20s and 30s I'd try anything as long as I didn't know what it was. I used to eat in restaurants in Vancouver that didn't differentiate between "round eyes" and Asians. But you should see some of the reactions I've had in other restaurants when I've ordered such tame food as congee (Cantonese name for it, aka jook or some other spelling.) I've probably eaten many things from the ocean I'd turn my nose up to if I actually knew what they were. And they were very, very tasty.

[Karenciavo]

Wasn't this info on the gullibility quiz? I got that one wrong. :glare:

[elegantlion]

Now, for the next tidbit, Aubrey and others may not wish to read this (I didn't want to know it, but have adjusted--there are worse things)...
















As for tiny crawling things, apparently we swallow tiny spiders that crawl into our mouths when we're sleeping.


Maybe that explains where the little critter I found on my bed the other day was going. UGH!

I went to the grocery this morning. I read almost every label and skipped the yogurt altogether.

[Karin]

Wasn't this info on the gullibility quiz? I got that one wrong. :glare:

Was it? I've forgotten some of the questions by now:001_smile: I don't remember that one. But there were some gross ones, IMO.

[Jane in NC]

Many parts of the world eat this on a regular or treat basis.

The PBS show Nova is airing an episode entitled "Master of the Killer Ants". On the related website (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ants/bugs.html) is an article on "Bugs You Can Eat". Launch the interactive for some amazing photos.

Jane
(Yummo?)