Is de e120 vegan?

The phrase de e120 is a label fragment that combines the European additive code E120, commonly known as carmine or cochineal, with the foreign preposition de, which means of or from in languages such as French, Spanish, and Portuguese. E120 is a vivid red food coloring derived from the bodies of female scale insects known as Dactylopius coccus.

To produce this additive, insects are harvested from cacti, dried, and crushed to extract carminic acid, which is then processed into a stable pigment. Manufacturers routinely use it to impart a pink, red, or purple shade to processed food items, including gelatin candies, fruit yogurts, strawberry-flavored drinks, processed meats, and confectionery glazes.

Any product listing containing E120 is not vegan because the dye is directly derived from harvested and killed insects. Consequently, food items displaying de e120 on their packaging contain an animal-derived additive and are not suitable for a plant-based diet.