EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S PAFF COMMITTEE APPROVES REMOVAL OF THE TERM ‘COCHINEAL’

FROM THE NAME OF FOOD COLOURING E 120

Following EFSA’s recommendation and the industry’s request, DG SANTE’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals,
Food and Feed (PAFF Committee) approves the name change of food colouring E 120, which contains a substance of
animal origin.

On April 17th, DG SANTE’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, Section Novel Food and
Toxicological Safety of the Food Chain approved a draft Commission Regulation amending Annex II to
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and the Annex to Commission
Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 as regards Cochineal, Carminic acid, Carmines (E 120).

The proposed regulation aimed at removing the term ‘cochineal’ from the name of the food colouring
“E120 cochineal, carminic acid, carmines”, with the recitals explaining that the modification is based on
the EFSA Opinion of 2015 re-evaluating the safety of E 120. Yet, when looking at this opinion, EFSA’s Panel
proposed «that the current title of the food additive “E 120 cochineal, carminic acid, carmines” be revised to
“E 120 cochineal extract, carminic acid and carmines”, which would more accurately reflect the material
used”».

When asked for clarifications on the issue, DG SANTE responded that changing the name of E 120 was
considered as a follow up to the EFSA’s opinion, which outlines that the current title does not adequately
correspond to the specified food colour since cochineal (the ground bodies of the female insect
Dactylopius coccus COSTA) is not used as a food colour.

EFSA’s proposal to revise the title to “E 120 cochineal extract, carminic acid and carmines” was discussed
with the main stakeholder representing the food colours producers, which proposed the title: “E 120
carminic acid, carmine” because cochineal refers to the starting material for food colours (i.e. the dried
bodies of the female insect Dactylopius coccus COSTA) but it is not permitted for use in food, therefore
suggesting to eliminate the reference to cochineal from the title of E 120.

In the light of EFSA’s recommendation and of the industry’s comments, the Commission concluded that
the title “carminic acid” is more appropriate for the food colouring as the title “cochineal extract” might
be misleading, considering the percentage on carminic acid contained in the product.

SAFE wishes to bring the issue to the attention of all Members and encourages them, particularly Vegan
organisations, to inform their networks of this change in the name and specifications of E 120 food
colouring. We also take this opportunity to remind you that, according to the applicable labelling rules,
food additives are designated by the name of the functional class followed by their specific name (or E
number). Therefore, when consumers are interested in knowing whether what they consume has an
animal origin, it is important to research the source materials in the product’s specifications, according to
Regulation (EU) No 231/2012.