DETECTION OF CARMINE COCHINEAL (E120) AS A NATURAL COLORING MATTER IN MILK, YOGHURT AND ICE CREAM

The addition of colors to food has continued and still occurs today in the manufacture of dairy products. The present of cochineal insects pigment (food additives) in daily intake has influence on human immune system and provoke an adverse reaction in some individuals. The given study was planned to detect carmine cochineal extract, (E120) as a natural coloring
matter in milk, yoghurt and ice cream with strawberry flavor as mention on labels by manufacturer from supermarkets and shops in Tanta district at EL-Gharbia governorate in Egypt in 2015. Forty five (45) samples were collected from heat-treated milk, yoghurt and ice cream with strawberry flavor from supermarket constitutes different dairy companies production (n=15 to each one). Each sample undergoes the analysis of cochineal insects pigment, carminic acid (CA) with high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) technique. The results indicated that presence of CA (E 120) in examined milk; yoghurts and
ice cream were 20%, 13.3% and 40% with a mean value of 153+31.9, 93.5+ 22.8 and 185.1+ 21.2 ppm respectively. The obtained data were evaluated according to maximum permissible limit for standardization and quality control. The public health significance and suggested precautions to protect consumers, health were discussed.