Cochineal is a red colorant extracted from the dried bodies of the female insect coccus cacti. The coloring is carminic acid in which the water-soluble extract is . It precipitates at ph 3, has good stability at ph 4, and excellent stability at ph 5–8. It has low tinctorial strength and has excellent stability to heat and light. It is also stable in retorted protein systems where other food dyes are unstable. It is used in foods requiring red coloring.
