For centuries, the cochineal colored the robes of Catholic Cardinals, heads of state and even the famous uniforms of the British "Red Coats." It was used widely in cosmetics, particularly rouge and lipstick, and colored many foods, from maraschino cherries to yogurt. The dye, called either carmine or chochineal, was popular well into the 20th century, until it lost ground to synthetic dyes. However, with the growing concern about possible carcinogenic effects of synthetics, cochineal is making a comeback, particularly in food and cosmetics.

Not everyone is enthralled with the little beasties, however, as an infestation can eventually kill a cactus. Purple prickly pear and the intricate Christmas cactus are a favorite of both desert landscapers and the cochineal, and a heavy infestation can kill a cactus.

The deliberate cultivation of the cochineal has caused problems as well. In the early 1788, prickly pear were brought back to Australia by some enterprising folks trying to cash in on the dye market. The cactus loved the arid Australian climate and lack of natural enemies, to the extent that it spread out of control and seriously compromised once-valuable ranch land, badly hurting the economy. Australia has spent the past 100 years trying to eliminate the invasive plant, with varying degrees of success.

The use of the dye in foods also causes consternation for vegetarians and those with Kosher diets, particularly since food manufacturers were previously under no obligation to list the animal source of their "natural coloring" listed on labels. There have also been occasional reports of serious allergic reaction to the dye.

In January of this year, the FDA published a proposed rule that would require food manufacturers to list these dyes as "carmine" or "cochineal extract" in the ingredient list, rather than "coloring."

Article by Sarah Horton.