"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 cochineal red?
Cochineal red is a vibrant and natural red food coloring obtained from the dried bodies of female cochineal insects, which are found in South America. The pigment, carminic acid, is extracted through a process that involves boiling the insects in water or an alkaline solution. Cochineal red is commonly used to color various foods and beverages, including dairy products, meat, baked goods, and even cosmetics. Its intense hue, stability, and non-toxic nature make it a popular alternative to synthetic dyes. However, some people may have allergic reactions to carmine, so it's essential to check product labels for its presence.
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.