Conagen develops sustainable intense red pigment carminic acid

Conagen develops better sustainable carminic acid via fermentation

Conagen, the product-focused platform innovator and biomanufacturer, has announced the successful construction of a carminic acid pathway compatible with its proprietary fermentation technology. The development of the intense red pigment is environmentally friendly and an alternative to traditional carminic acid extraction methods.

Sustainable carminic acid for food ingredients developed by Conagen

Carminic acid is a commonly used, natural red food colorant designated as Natural Red Dye #4 in the U.S. or E120 in the E.U.  It is widely used in processed foods, beverages, drugs, cosmetics, and textile dying, and it competes in some of these applications with the artificial “azo” Red Dye Number 40. The molecule is normally extracted from several insect species, including Dactyloius coccus (cochineal) living on Opuntia cacti.

 

“This development is an important step forward for the food, cosmetics, and textile industries, as it offers a natural and sustainable alternative to certain synthetic dyes, which carry warning labels in some countries,” said Casey Lippmeier, SVP of innovation. “Our carminic acid is another great example of a product made from our bio-solutions production platform, transforming industries and helping us move towards planet-and human-friendly materials for a sustainable future.”

 

Conagen’s de novo production platform makes it possible to produce and scale high-quality carminic acid in volumes up to thousands of tons, relieving supply chain challenges and potential allergenicity issues posed by incumbent insect-based sources. The fermentation process provides a stable supply of high-quality carminic acid, allowing for greater control over future production quantity and quality.

While carminic acid is not directly harmful to the environment, its traditional production requires large amounts of water, which can strain local water resources in areas where water is scarce. This can lead to water scarcity, drought, and other negative impacts on local ecosystems and wildlife.

 

Carminic acid has traditionally been used as a food colorant, cosmetic coloring, and textile dye. However, the decline of its production occurred in the late 19th century, with the emergence of synthetic dyes that were cheaper and easier to produce.

Carminic acid in red cosmetics

Recently, there has been a resurgent interest in natural products due to health concerns associated with certain synthetic dyes. This has led to increased demand for carminic acid, resulting in a 73% increase in price from 2013 to 2018. The current industrial production of carminic acid is estimated to be 800 tons per year, mainly from Peru, the Canary Islands, Chile, and Mexico.

 

“Our carminic acid joins Conagen’s Tyrian purple dye in a portfolio of sustainable dyes, colors, and pigments with the potential to meet the growing demand for natural and sustainable products,” said Lippmeier. “By providing a reliable and consistent source of carminic acid, this technology could replace synthetic pigments and help the industry move towards a more sustainable and ethical future.”

 

Many reports have been published indicating that some synthetic chemical dyes increase the cancer risk in animal models. As a result, red dye #3 was withdrawn from the European market and banned for use in cosmetics. At the same time, it is still allowed to be used as a food ingredient in U.S. Another artificial red color, “red dye #40,” also raised serious health concerns linked to increased ADHD in children. Notably, both dyes can also contain minor contaminants of carcinogens, such as benzidine, that may be directly linked to bladder cancer.

About Conagen

Conagen is making the impossible possible. We are a product-focused, synthetic biology R&D company with large-scale manufacturing service capabilities. Our proprietary strain development, fermentation, and scale-up technologies enhance our global partners’ sales, production, and profitability across a broad spectrum of current and developing markets in food, beverage, nutrition, flavor and fragrance, pharmaceutical, and renewable materials.