The shell of the female cochineal contains a vibrant red chemical called carminic acid. Carminic acid's color is pH-dependent. For a more orange-red, you can lower the pH (make it more acidic). To ...

Carmine is a widely used pigment derived from gravid cochineal insects. Carminic acid is the source of its color. Only two previous publications describing allergic contact dermatitis from carmine ...