FDA regulates bug colorant in makeup and food

First we have to worry about lead in our cosmetics and food now bugs. What is the FDA really regulating?

 

Have you ever wondered what the colorants are in your makeup, cosmetics, or food products? Lip colors may be gorgeous red, lemonade a pretty pink, and decorations on cakes vibrant red but they may also have one other thing in common, artificial colorants.

 

Makeup must be labeled as required by the FDA with specific colorants provided on the label. A cosmetic company cannot simply apply artificial color to the label it must list the artificial ingredient or color.

 

Food and drugs however have different rules. In most cases manufacturing companies are only required to list certain ingredients using terms instead of specifics. The terms “artificial colors” or ‘color added” are evidence of these labeling regulations seen on food packaging.

 

After a decade long campaign by a watchdog group known as Center for Science in the Public Interest the FDA has changed the labeling requirements for cochineal the pretty red and pink colorant used in the foods, drugs, and cosmetics.  New regulations now mandate the bug ingredient cochineal or similar ingredients be listed on ingredient labels.