YenzoWhat is E120 (carmine)?
It is a red colour named cochineal, carminic acid, carmines; Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT lists it as a colour (INS 120). In food it gives a red to pink colour.
E120Cochineal, carminic acid, carmines
E120 is carmine (cochineal, carminic acid), a red colour taken from cochineal, a small insect. In food it gives a red to pink colour.
Did you know? In 2015 EFSA proposed renaming E 120 in its EU specification to "E 120 cochineal extract, carminic acid and carmines", to reflect the material actually used more accurately.
- Code
- E120 · INS 120
- Group
- Colour
In Vietnam✓ PermittedOn the list of permitted additives — Circular 24/2019, Appendix 1
Risk level on the Yenzo Scalelow?Based on the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy
How E120 appears on labels
IngredientsIllustrative example
Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, colour (120), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).
colour (120)colour 120E120INS 120On Vietnamese labels: Carmin
Cochineal, carminic acid, carmines in food
Non-alcoholic drinksHard and soft candyChewing gumEdible ices and fruit ice creamBaked goodsPotato and cereal snacksCooked noodles and pastaDipping sauces and sauces
Questions about cochineal, carminic acid, carmines
Is carmine (E 120) harmful?
In 2015 EFSA concluded that the data gave no reason to revise the ADI of 5 mg carmine/kg body weight per day set by the SCF in 1983, and proposed to express it as carminic acid, which corresponds to 2.5 mg carminic acid/kg body weight per day. In the refined non-brand-loyal scenario, intake was below the ADI for all population groups. EFSA also noted that no threshold can be set for allergic reactions, so allergenic proteins should be removed by purification during manufacture.
Is E120 permitted in Vietnam?
Yes. Carmines (INS 120) is listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food, with the function colour.
Other colours
E121Citrus red 2highE122Azorubine / carmoisinemoderateE123AmaranthmoderateE124Ponceau 4RmoderateE125Ponceau SX (scarlet GN)highE126Ponceau 6Rhigh
See all colours →Found in these products
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Bánh quy kẹp kem Imperial hương dâu (strawberry sandwich cookies)Imperial · cakes and biscuits
Kẹo mềm Sugus hương trái cây (fruit chews)Sugus · sweets and candy
Bánh quy Oreo vị kem việt quất (blueberry ice cream)Oreo · cakes and biscuitsThịt xông khói hỗn hợp GO! (mixed smoked bacon)GO! · sausages and processed meatUpdated 21 October 2026
Sources (3)
- Open Food Facts additives taxonomy (Yenzo's table cites no EFSA opinion for this code). Open Food Facts additives taxonomy, https://github.com/openfoodfacts/openfoodfacts-server/blob/main/taxonomies/additives.txt (entry en:e120)
- Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 2A: nhóm thực phẩm được phép dùng INS 120
- EFSA Journal (2015). Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of cochineal, carminic acid, carmines (E 120) as a food additive