amber
Carmine
Insect-derived red colour. Documented IgE allergen with anaphylaxis case reports.
DiCello et al. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1999 (carmine anaphylaxis)
Low Tox Gear · Scanner
Queen Writing Icing 5 pack
Is Queen Writing Icing 5 pack low tox? Our scanner flagged 2 ingredients (2 in the caution tier) on its published label, screened against our 237 source-cited chemical rules.
2 caution
2 ingredients flagged
What we flagged
amber
Thickener: Carrageenan
Gut inflammation concerns; contested in research literature but worth a trial of avoidance for IBS.
Full ingredients (from label)
SugarWaterVegetable Oil (Palm, Shea Kernel)Maltodextrin (Corn)Tapioca StarchColours: Vegetable CarbonCopper-ChlorophyllinCurcuminCarmine; Modified Tapioca & Corn StarchHumectant: Glycerine; Dextrose (Corn)Emulsifiers: Mono & Di-Glycerides of Fatty AcidsPolysorbate 60Soy LecithinGlucose Syrup (Corn)Plant Extract: Spirulina Concentrate; FlavouringsAcidity Regulator: Citric Acid; Preservative Potassium Sorbate; Antioxidant: Mixed Tocopherols Concentrate; Thickener: Carrageenan.
How this analysis is generated
Each ingredient on this product's published label is matched against our 237 source-cited chemical rules, each documenting a concern from peer-reviewed research and regulatory sources. Severity tiers:
- Avoid (red) — banned or restricted in the EU, UK or Canada but still legal in the US, IARC-listed, or strong contact-allergen evidence.
- Caution (amber) — regulatory caution, contamination risk, or condition-specific irritant.
- Mild (green) — low concern but commonly avoided in low-tox formulations.
Each flag links to its primary chemical-level source, and each condition pill links to a PubMed-indexed paper that discusses the chemical class in the context of that condition. Every citation is a real peer-reviewed paper — we don't link to Wikipedia or PubMed search pages. Some pairs use a topically-broad paper (e.g. a fragrance-allergen patch-test review) rather than a single-pair study where the literature is thin. The full evidence chain (chemical → mechanism → condition → paper) is one click away.
This is automated analysis of a published label, not medical advice — always verify the label yourself before changing products. Methodology and source list at scan.lowtoxgear.com.