Carmine red allergy and mite allergy in people with suspected reactions
What it found
In 3,164 people tested for carmine red allergy, about one in four who reacted to it had no reaction to mites.
Allergic symptoms after taking in carmine did not depend on also reacting to mites.
What they found
Studies in people
Positive skin test rates
Out of 3,164 patients tested with carmine, 94 (3.0%) had a positive skin prick test. Among those 94, 74% also reacted to mites and 22% reacted to shrimp.
Symptoms without mite allergy
In 39 out of 94 patients (42%), symptoms after taking in carmine happened even without a reaction to mites.
Carmine without mite sensitivity
About one fourth of the patients who reacted to carmine on the skin test did not react to mites at all.
What the authors conclude
- They found that carmine sensitivity can happen without mite sensitivity in about one fourth of patients.
- The authors conclude that allergic reactions to carmine do not depend on whether someone also reacts to mites.
How it was done
Skin prick tests for carmine red have been reported to react at the same time as tests for mites. Scientists did not know how these two reactions were linked or what that meant for patients.
Researchers tested 6,464 patients who might be allergic to food additives using skin prick tests. Of those, 3,164 were tested with carmine and 2,837 with shrimp. Patients who reacted to carmine filled out a follow-up questionnaire one to five years later about their symptoms.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This study looked at people who already suspected they had an allergy to food additives. It cannot show how common carmine reactions are in the general public.
- A skin prick test shows sensitivity but does not always mean someone will have symptoms when eating the ingredient.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Turku University Hospital, Finland
The paper
- Title
- Allergy to carmine red (E120) is not dependent on concurrent mite allergy
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Liippo J, Lammintausta K (2009). Allergy to carmine red (E120) is not dependent on concurrent mite allergy. International archives of allergy and immunology. doi:10.1159/000218121PubMed 19439984DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error