Is There Bug Juice in Your Sobe Lifewater?
We've all heard about the FDA allowing a certain number of incidental buggies to enter our food supply. But did you know there are also intentional bugs in our food? While drinking a pomegranate flavored Sobe Lifewater, I noticed an ingredient that I was unfamiliar with, called cochineal. On a quick search, I realized it is the name of an insect!
The Cochineal or (Dactylopius coccus) is a small, parasitic insect that lives on a cactus. It is native to tropical regions of South America and Mexico. This insect has been boiled for its red color since the time of the Aztecs and Mayans in order to dye textiles. Its popularity waned once other dyes became available. Now it is gaining new popularity as a need for natural dyes to replace synthetic ones has emerged. This small winged insect, is actually boiled into a decoction, treated with other additives such as alum, or cream of tartar, and makes a nice red color.
Many foods, including ice cream, yogurt, juice, and other beverages use Carmine, derived from the Cochineal, for coloring. Even some lip gloss and other cosmetics are tinted using this coloring. It can be listed on a label as carmine, cochineal, crimson lake, or natural red, and doesn't have to be labeled as "insect derived" per the FDA in the U.S. It is an officially approved dye that can be added to food whenever there is a need for a nice shade of red.
Aside from the gross factor, why is this a problem? Hundreds of people per year end up in the emergency room with anaphlactic shock related to an allergy to this additive. Reactions include breathing problems, puffy eyes, swelling and rash. In addition, not knowing whether you are eating or drinking bug parts can be a problem for people trying to adhere to a vegan lifestyle, or those with religious reasons to avoid consuming animals. So what is a non-bug lover to do?
In 1998, the Center for Science in the Public Interest urged the FDA to require "insect based" to be listed on the ingredients label of foods containing carmine. For some reason, this was met with resistance. Hmm, who would have guessed, the food manufacturers didn't want us to know we were eating bugs. Perhaps they thought we might lose our appetite! While the use of carmine color was not banned as a result of these reports, the FDA does require that cochineal or carmine be clearly stated on the labels of those products containing them.
And you thought bug juice was just a sweet drink to have a summer camp!
Published by April
I enjoy writing about many different topics. I live in New England with my husband and two children. View profile
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15 Comments
Post a CommentI just drank one, and I'll continue to do so. As long as I don't have a reaction, I'm just fine ^_^ I have been drinking em for so long I don't really care whats in em. I mean we eat cows and birds for crying out loud, bugs aren't that big of a deal, especially a bud I know not much about. o.O
is that true!
gross!
I was freaking drinking a pomegranate Lifewater when i read this
GARCINIA CAMBOGIA RIND EXTRACT has not been proven to have an adverse effect on humans like the cochineal.
"Some people who are advised not to take it are Children, pregnant and lactating women, those diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, and people with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia disease. In the case of Alzheimer's patients, it is thought HCA might form acetylcholine in the brain, while diabetics could be affected by HCA's tendency to lower blood sugar. Conversely, in healthy adults this latter effect can purportedly curb cravings for sweets and carbohydrates."
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-garcinia-cambogia.htm
Yuck!! I had a very bad allergic reaction to this. I had a couple of sips of this SoBe pomegranate water and was so sick...my eyes were puffed out, face swollen, severe heartburn, terrible stomach-ache....Sick as a DOG!!! I knew I was allergic to carmine, but did not realize that cochineal is a derivative of carmine....I called the FDA and fileda complaint....I also caled PepsiCo and filed a comlaint...I encourage everyone to do the same!!!
Oh thank you so much for this info!! I have had bad reaction to a number of the "Lifewater" products and thought I was crazy! Appears not.
I also get heart palpitations from the Fuji Pear zero-calorie flavor. Must be the GARCINIA CAMBOGIA RIND EXTRACT.
Jeez....for sensitive people (the the insects), they should call this stuff Death Water.
I'm not sure how true it is that I'm allergic to this carmine but i've dranken the promegranete sobe life water twice now and had a severe anaphalaxtic reaction each time... maybe that is what I am allergic to all along... i've had 7 reactions since dec. but could this be in sushi, tacos, cheesecake, and a caribou coffee cooler?
April,
Thanks for the info! Enjoyed reading several of your articles. And this one is new to me. I'll be looking out for "Carmine", etc., now...
Jen
It's amazing the amount of garbage the FDA will allow in food and drink we consume on a daily basis. Disgusting!