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01-11-2004, 12:59 PM
From http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11247178%255E421,00.html
Beetles used to make Smarties
By Dan Parkinson
November 1, 2004
THERE are green ones, yellow ones and even blue ones. But how many beetle-coloured Smarties have you tried? Red Smarties get their bright colour from a dye made from dried and crushed insects.
And while that information may make the most devoted fan a little squeamish, it has left vegetarians with a particularly bad taste in their mouths. They claimed Nestle, which makes the candy-coated chocolate buttons, should consider an alternative for those unwilling to indulge in animal by-products.
The red dye used to colour Smarties is processed by crushing dried female cochineal insects, which are collected in central America.
It results in the colourant cochineal, otherwise known as carmine or E120.
Smarties weren't the only favourites expected to be crossed off strict vegetarians' shopping lists.
Guinness and some licorice allsorts also were singled out. Guinness uses isinglass, a form of gelatine made from fish bladders, in the production process to make the stout clearer, while the allsorts are said to contain gelatine made from animal bones.
"There are some companies putting gremlins on our shopping lists," said Britain's Vegetarian Society chief executive Tina Fox.
"They make products that at first glance are vegetarian. But then you look a little closer, do a little research and find out that the sweets your toddler asks for or the beer your host offers you actually use animal by-products."
The society named Smarties the winner of its Imperfect World Award at a ceremony in London. The awards highlight products which appear suitable for vegetarians until much closer inspection.
Smarties, which come in eight colours, are one of Nestle's top-selling brands. More than five billion tubes have been made in 25 years.
Beetles used to make Smarties
By Dan Parkinson
November 1, 2004
THERE are green ones, yellow ones and even blue ones. But how many beetle-coloured Smarties have you tried? Red Smarties get their bright colour from a dye made from dried and crushed insects.
And while that information may make the most devoted fan a little squeamish, it has left vegetarians with a particularly bad taste in their mouths. They claimed Nestle, which makes the candy-coated chocolate buttons, should consider an alternative for those unwilling to indulge in animal by-products.
The red dye used to colour Smarties is processed by crushing dried female cochineal insects, which are collected in central America.
It results in the colourant cochineal, otherwise known as carmine or E120.
Smarties weren't the only favourites expected to be crossed off strict vegetarians' shopping lists.
Guinness and some licorice allsorts also were singled out. Guinness uses isinglass, a form of gelatine made from fish bladders, in the production process to make the stout clearer, while the allsorts are said to contain gelatine made from animal bones.
"There are some companies putting gremlins on our shopping lists," said Britain's Vegetarian Society chief executive Tina Fox.
"They make products that at first glance are vegetarian. But then you look a little closer, do a little research and find out that the sweets your toddler asks for or the beer your host offers you actually use animal by-products."
The society named Smarties the winner of its Imperfect World Award at a ceremony in London. The awards highlight products which appear suitable for vegetarians until much closer inspection.
Smarties, which come in eight colours, are one of Nestle's top-selling brands. More than five billion tubes have been made in 25 years.