E120/Cochineal/Carmine

E120 also known as carmine, crimson lake or carmine lake, cochineal, natural red 4, C.I. 75470, or Red 4 is extracted from the crushed carcasses of the female Dactylopius coccus, a cactus-feeding scale insect, which is killed by either immersion in hot water or by exposure to sunlight, steam, or the heat of an oven. Allah Ta’aala mentions in the Quraan Karim:

وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ

“And he forbids them from impure things.” (Surah Aaraaf verse 157)

It would hence be impermissible to consume any item containing this ingredient.

However due to insects not having flowing blood they are not regarded as impure; thus, it will be permissible to use an item containing this ingredient for external usage only (for example medicinal applications on the skin, etc) when there is a necessity for such usage.