"You are amazing, this has saved me so much time when grocery shopping!"
— Austin, a user who reached out with feedback
"It's been a great tool since starting my journey! You take a pic of the nutrition/ingredients, and it'll warn you of anything questionable or not vegan. 😁"
— Ashe, a Vegan For Beginners Facebook Group member
"Use a vegan app when you go shopping, I use WhatsVegan."
— Dóra, a Vegan For Beginners Facebook Group member
So, what is carmin?
Carmin or carmine is a natural red pigment derived from the Cochineal insect. The insects are harvested, dried, and then crushed to create a vibrant crimson dye that is commonly used as a food coloring agent. It is often added to foods such as meat products, yogurt, candy, baked goods, and beverages to give them a pink, red, or purple hue. Carmin is a popular alternative to synthetic dyes due to its natural origin and perceived health benefits. However, it can cause allergic reactions in some individuals, and its use has been controversial due to ethical concerns surrounding the harvesting of the insects.
We've built a vegan ingredients scanner that classifies food ingredients as "vegan", "non-vegan", or "potentially vegan".
It allows you to avoid non-vegan ingredients - just take a picture of a product's ingredient list, and the app tells you if the product is vegan or not.