Products Description
Cochineal powder - Premium Carmine Extract | Natural Red Colorant for Food & Cosmetics | E120 Compliant
Our Cochineal powder is a superior natural red colorant derived from carefully processed cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus) through a gentle water-based extraction method. This vibrant, stable red pigment offers exceptional color intensity and purity, making it the ideal choice for high-end food, beverage, and cosmetic applications where brilliant red hues are essential.
Produced using ethically sourced cochineal insects and purified water, our pigment contains no synthetic additives, preservatives, or carriers, ensuring a clean-label ingredient profile. The advanced extraction process guarantees consistent color intensity (E1% 1cm ≥100) with remarkable stability across a wide pH range (3.0-7.0) and excellent heat resistance (up to 121°C).
Compliant with EU E120 standards, FDA regulations, and global cosmetic directives, our Rouge Red Pigment Powder delivers unparalleled performance while meeting consumer demand for natural, recognizable ingredients. Its versatility allows for seamless integration into both aqueous and oil-based formulations, providing manufacturers with a reliable red color solution.
Product Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Testing Method | Compliance Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | Dactylopius coccus (Cochineal insects) | Microscopic Identification | ISO 12725 |
| Color Value (E1% 1cm) | ≥100 at 520nm | Spectrophotometry | USP <1061> |
| Appearance | Fine red to purple-red powder | Visual Inspection | Food & Cosmetic Grade |
| Extraction Method | Water extraction, physical purification | Process Validation | FDA 21 CFR 73.10 |
| Solubility | ≥90% in water (pH 8.0-9.0) | Turbidity Measurement | AOAC 973.33 |
| pH (1% Solution) | 5.0-7.0 | pH Meter | USP <791> |
| Loss on Drying | ≤5.0% | Vacuum Oven (105°C, 2 hours) | AOAC 934.01 |
| Ash Content | ≤3.0% | Dry Ashing | AOAC 940.26 |
| Heavy Metals | Total ≤10ppm (Pb ≤0.1ppm, Cd ≤0.1ppm, Hg ≤0.01ppm, As ≤0.1ppm) | ICP-MS | EU 1881/2006 |
| Arsenic (As) | ≤0.1ppm | Atomic Absorption | AOAC 986.15 |
| Lead (Pb) | ≤0.1ppm | Atomic Absorption | AOAC 974.23 |
| Microbial Contamination | Total Aerobic Count ≤10,000 cfu/g, Yeast/Mold ≤100 cfu/g | Plate Count Method | FDA BAM Chapter 3 |
| Pathogens | E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus: Negative | Selective Media | ISO 6579, ISO 16649 |
| Protein Content | ≤15% | Kjeldahl Method | AOAC 984.13 |
| Carmine Content | ≥50% | HPLC | USP 43-NF 38 |
| Shelf Life | 36 months from production date | Accelerated Stability Testing | ISO 22000 |
| Certifications | Kosher, Halal, GMP, ISO 22000, Ecocert | Third-Party Audits | Global Standards |
Product advantages
Why Choose Our Cochineal powder
Cochineal powder - Premium Carmine Extract | Natural Red Colorant for Food & Cosmetics | E120 Compliant
Exceptional Color Intensity
With color value ≥100 (E1% 1cm), our Cochineal powder delivers brilliant red hues at low usage levels (0.005-0.05%), reducing formulation costs.
Superior Stability
Maintains color integrity across pH range 3.0-7.0 and demonstrates excellent heat stability (up to 121°C for 30 minutes), suitable for various processing conditions.
Dual Application
Versatile for both food & beverage and cosmetic formulations, providing consistent red coloring across diverse product categories.
Clean Label Formulation
Free from allergens, synthetic additives, and carriers, with simple ingredient declaration as "carmine" or "cochineal extract."
Global Regulatory Compliance
Meets EU E120, FDA 21 CFR 73.10, and major international standards for food and cosmetic use, facilitating global market access.
Water & Oil Compatible
Easily disperses in both aqueous and oil-based systems, offering formulation flexibility across product types.
Product Applications
Our Cochineal powder offers versatile applications across food, beverage, and cosmetic industries requiring stable, natural red coloring:
1 Food Industry Applications
- Confectionery: Perfect for coloring premium chocolates, gummies, licorice, and hard candies at 0.01-0.03% concentration. Rouge red pigment powder provides a rich, uniform red that remains stable through high-temperature candy production processes up to 150°C.
- Dairy Products: Ideal for yogurt, ice cream, cheeses, and dairy desserts (0.005-0.02%). The pigment maintains its vibrant red color in both acidic and neutral dairy environments, enhancing the visual appeal of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry-flavored products.
- Baked Goods: Used in cake mixes, icings, fillings, and specialty breads (0.01-0.04%) to create eye-catching red hues. Rouge red pigment powder remains stable during baking and retains color in both refrigerated and shelf-stable products.
- Processed Meats: Added to sausages, ham, and deli meats (0.015-0.03%) to enhance natural red color and improve visual appeal, with excellent stability during curing and processing.
- Fruit Preparations: Incorporated into jams, jellies, and fruit fillings (0.01-0.025%) to intensify natural red color, particularly effective in strawberry, raspberry, and cherry products.
2 Beverage Industry Applications
- Alcoholic Beverages: Used in wines, spirits, liqueurs, and cocktails (0.005-0.02%) to achieve vibrant red colors. Rouge red pigment powder provides excellent stability in both low and high alcohol environments.
- Fruit Juices & Drinks: Added to berry juices, fruit punches, and blended drinks (0.005-0.015%) to enhance natural red color. The pigment remains stable in acidic beverage formulations with pH as low as 3.0.
- Functional Beverages: Incorporated into energy drinks, nutritional beverages, and herbal infusions (0.005-0.02%) to create visually appealing red formulations, with no impact on flavor profiles.
- Dairy-Based Drinks: Used in strawberry milk, yogurt drinks, and smoothies (0.008-0.02%) to provide consistent red color that remains stable throughout product shelf life.
- Carbonated Beverages: Added to soft drinks and sparkling beverages (0.005-0.015%) to achieve bright red hues that remain stable under carbonation and various storage conditions.
3 Cosmetic & Personal Care Applications
- Lip Products: Ideal for lipsticks, lip glosses, and lip liners (0.5-2.0%) to provide vibrant, long-lasting red shades. Rouge red pigment powder offers excellent adherence and color retention on lips.
- Cheek Products: Used in blushes, cheek tints, and bronzers (0.3-1.5%) to create natural-looking red tones that blend smoothly and maintain color throughout the day.
- Eye Products: Incorporated into eyeshadows, eyeliners, and mascaras (0.2-1.0%) to provide rich red pigments that are stable under various conditions.
- Nail Polishes: Added to nail lacquers and treatments (1.0-3.0%) to create vibrant red shades with excellent light stability and durability.
- Skin Care Products: Used in tinted moisturizers, foundations, and creams (0.1-0.5%) to provide subtle red undertones and color correction properties.
Company Advantages
Direct Sourcing Network
Exclusive partnerships with sustainable cochineal farms in Peru and Mexico, ensuring consistent raw material quality with 20% higher carmine content than industry average.
Proprietary Extraction Process
Advanced low-temperature extraction technology that preserves color intensity while reducing processing time by 30% compared to traditional methods.
Vertical Integration
Complete control from cochineal harvesting to finished product, ensuring full traceability, quality consistency, and competitive pricing through elimination of middlemen.
Advanced Quality Control
In-house laboratory with ISO 17025 accreditation performing 60+ tests per batch, including color value verification, heavy metal screening, and microbial analysis.
Production Capacity
Flexible manufacturing from small trial quantities (1kg) to large-scale production (100,000kg/year) with 5-day turnaround for standard orders.
Regulatory Expertise
Comprehensive documentation packages for global markets, including EU E120 compliance, FDA food additive notifications, and cosmetic regulatory support.
Product Case Studies
Product Success Cases
Cochineal powder - Premium Carmine Extract | Natural Red Colorant for Food & Cosmetics | E120 Compliant
Case 1: Premium Chocolate Manufacturer
Challenge: A high-end chocolate company needed a natural red colorant for their ruby chocolate truffles that would maintain color stability during tempering, provide intense red hue at low usage levels, and meet clean-label requirements.
Solution: We provided our Cochineal powder with technical support for formulation optimization. Our team recommended 0.015% inclusion, demonstrating stability through their tempering process (45-50°C).
Result: The ruby chocolate truffle line achieved 35% higher sales than projected, with consumer research showing 82% purchase intent driven by the "rich, natural red color." The product maintained color stability for 12 months, exceeding their 9-month requirement. They now use the pigment in 6 product variants, ordering 5,000kg quarterly.
Case 2: Cosmetic Brand
Challenge: A luxury cosmetic brand struggled with color inconsistency and fading in their red lipsticks using conventional natural colorants, resulting in customer complaints and product returns.
Solution: We supplied our high-stability Cochineal powder with specific formulation guidelines. Our technical team recommended 1.2% inclusion with proper dispersion techniques to optimize color stability in their lipstick base.
Result: Product returns dropped by 40%, with color retention improving from 4 hours to 8 hours of wear time. Consumer testing showed 93% preference for the new formulation's color intensity and longevity. The client expanded its red lipstick line by 4 shades and now orders 2,000kg monthly.
Case 3: Craft Beverage Company
Challenge: A craft brewery developing a fruit-infused beer needed a natural red colorant that would remain stable in their acidic beer base (pH 4.0-4.5), tolerate pasteurization, and not affect the beer's flavor profile.
Solution: We provided our Rouge Red Pigment Powder with compatibility testing in their specific beer formulation. Our technical team recommended 0.008% inclusion, demonstrating stability through their pasteurization process (60°C for 30 minutes).
Result: The fruit-infused red beer became their best-selling seasonal product, capturing 18% market share in the craft beer segment. Sensory testing confirmed no impact on flavor, with 87% of consumers rating the color as "very appealing." The company has since adopted the pigment for their fruit cider line, with quarterly orders of 3,500kg.
Packaging & Shipping
Packaging Options
| Order Size | Packaging Type | Material Standards | Shelf Life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Quantities (1kg–5kg) | Aluminum foil vacuum-sealed bags in food-grade cardboard boxes with desiccants | FDA 21 CFR 177, EU 10/2011 | 36 months |
| Medium Batch (10kg–25kg) | Multi-layer paper bags with food-grade PE liners and moisture barriers | ISO 6598, FDA Compliant | 36 months |
| Large Batch (50kg–200kg) | Fiber drums with double food-grade PE liners and tamper-evident seals | UN 3H1, FDA/USP Standards | 36 months |
| Bulk (300kg–100,000kg+) | FIBC bulk bags with food-grade liners and UV protection | ISO 21898, FDA Compliant | 36 months |
| Cosmetic Grade | Specialized containers with light protection | Cosmetic GMP Standards | 36 months |
| Custom Orders | Private-label packaging, pre-weighed sachets, specialized containers | Client specifications | 36 months |
All packaging includes batch number, COA reference, production date, expiry date, QR code for full traceability, and storage instructions: "Store in cool, dry place (15-25°C) away from direct light and heat. Keep container tightly closed when not in use. Protect from moisture absorption."
Shipping Information
- Transport Modes:
- Express (DHL/FedEx): 2–5 days (small quantities)
- Air Freight: 5–7 days (medium batches)
- Sea Freight: 21–35 days (bulk orders)
- Temperature-Controlled Transport: For high-humidity destinations
- Storage Conditions: Shipped in moisture-resistant packaging with desiccants to maintain powder integrity during transport.
- Documentation: Each shipment includes comprehensive documentation:
- Certificate of Analysis (COA) with color value verification (≥100)
- Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS/SDS)
- Kosher, Halal, and other relevant certificates (as requested)
- Certificate of Origin and Free Sale Certificate
- Allergen and GMO-free declarations
- Handling, storage, and formulation guidelines
- Customs Compliance: Pre-prepared documents for global markets including FDA Prior Notice, EU Food Additive Notification, and import permits assistance.
Customer Reviews
User Evaluation
David K.
R&D Director
Sarah L.
Product Development Manager
Michael T.
Sourcing Manager
FAQ
Everything You Need to Know
Rouge Red Pigment Powder - Premium Carmine Extract | Natural Red Colorant for Food & Cosmetics | E120 Compliant
What is Cochineal powder?
Cochineal powder is a natural red colorant derived from cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus) through a water-based extraction process. It provides vibrant red coloring for food, beverages, and cosmetics as a natural alternative to synthetic red dyes.
How is Cochineal powder produced?
Our Cochineal powder is produced by water extraction of carminic acid from cochineal insects, followed by purification, concentration, and spray-drying to create a fine powder with exceptional color intensity.
Is Cochineal powder natural?
Yes, our Cochineal powder is 100% natural, derived exclusively from cochineal insects using only water in the production process, with no synthetic additives, solvents, or carriers.
What is the color value of Cochineal powder?
Our Cochineal powder has a minimum color value of 100 (E1% 1cm at 520nm), indicating high color intensity that requires only low usage levels (0.005-0.05% for food, 0.2-3.0% for cosmetics) to achieve vibrant red shades.
Is Cochineal powder Pigment heat-stable?
Yes, Cochineal powder demonstrates excellent heat stability, maintaining color intensity even after exposure to temperatures up to 121°C for 30 minutes, making it suitable for most food processing methods.
What is the pH stability range of Cochineal powder?
Our Cochineal powder maintains stable color across pH range 3.0-7.0, making it versatile for use in acidic products like beverages and neutral products like dairy items and cosmetics.
Can Cochineal powder be used in cosmetics?
Yes, our Cochineal powder is suitable for cosmetic applications including lipsticks, blushes, eyeshadows, and nail polishes, providing vibrant, long-lasting red color with excellent skin compatibility.
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