Lac Dye Red: A Natural Animal ‑Derived Color Additive
You may be familiar with carmine (cochineal extract), but do you know Lac Dye Red? Also extracted from animal sources, Lac Dye Red remains less well‑known. Lac dye red has wide applications and is approved by China’s national food additive standards as a coating agent, chewing gum base, and colorant.
What Is Lac Dye Red?
Lac (shellac) is a purple natural resin secreted by female lac insects after feeding on host tree sap. It consists of 70–80% resin, plus lac wax, lac pigment, protein, minerals, and moisture.
Lac is harvested April–May and September–October by cutting lac‑covered branches, then cleaned, purified, and processed into resin, wax, and pigment. About 300,000 lac insects produce just 1 kg of lac resin.
Lac Dye Red (Lac Dye) is a food additive made from raw lac via hydrochloric acid extraction. It is a mixture of natural organic acids.
Lac Dye Red
Water Solution
Key Properties
Form: Bright red powder
Solubility: 0.0335 g in water (20°C); 0.916 g in 95% ethanol; soluble in sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, and sodium hydroxide solutions
pH Stability:
pH < 4: orange‑yellow
pH 4.0–5.0: orange‑red
pH > 6: purplish red
Stability: Stable to light and heat under acidic conditions; sensitive to metal ions (chelating agents recommended); dyeing weakens near neutral pH
Approved Uses
Jams/Jelly
Confectionery
Confectionery and chocolate coatings
Baking fillings and surface glazes (flavor pie fillings only)
Compound seasonings
Carbonated drinks
Compound wines
Fruit/vegetable juice drinks
Lac Red is highly recommended for beverage coloring ★★★★★
Milk
Jelly
Yoghurt
Beverage
Beverage
Lac Dye Red approved in China as a safe food color. Bright red powder • stable in acid • ideal for beverages. Widely used in drinks, jams, candy.
-----THE END-----
