Is it permissible to use carminic acid which is extracted from an insect as a natural food colorant?
Question
Is it permissible to use carminic acid which is extracted from an insect as a natural food colorant?
Answer
Maliki scholars, in one of their opinions, maintained the permissibility of eating and benefitting from insects. This is contrary to the opinion of the majority of scholars which is also the opinion implemented for fatwa in the matter of foodstuff. This is because eating insects is considered repulsive to human nature. However, there is no objection to following the Maliki opinion that permits using and benefitting from insects if some of the materials extracted from them are beneficial.
On the other hand, it is possible to establish the legal ruling based either on the effect of istahala in the removal of impurity or on the permissibility of the consumption of insects. Istihala is the process by which a substance undergoes a chemical transformation to produce a different substance with different properties, thereby removing the impurity of the original substance; it therefore can no longer be described as impure.
Substances such as that mentioned in the question are extracted from certain kinds of insects. They undergo physical and chemical changes that completely change their chemical structure when they are transformed into colorants. In this case, they become pure and permissible for consumption provided they do not cause any harm. This is the opinion of the majority of scholars who maintain the prohibition of eating insects (which are considered filth or repulsive).
And God the Almighty knows best.