At first I thought Mac was being polite, and assuming Rob was going off to do some personal business. The comments reminded me that “shuf” means “look” in Arabic. I had no idea it had been adopted into homeland slang. So Rob was going off to have a look at Google, as he said, and Mac was fully understanding of that.
Cochineal and carmine are red food dyes extracted from the same tiny red bug…
Cochineal in particular has been used for centuries…. but its popularity had almost died out in the 20th century, replaced by synthetic red dyes…
until the most used of those, mostly red #2, came under fire in the late 70’s for being carcinogenic, and were replaced by weaker reds and/or real cochineal again.
I remember it was when my nephew was small that red M&M’s disappeared.
Natural food grade shellac comes from another tiny insect.. i think it’s called the lac, but I’m doing this from my fading memory.
It’s the natural food movement that made some manufacturers go back to bugs instead of chemicals….
but I’ve read that an anti-bug backlash, especially from vegetarians who consider them animals, has made some rethink that route too.
If you see cochineal, carmine or shellac in the ingredients, it may be bug extracts…. but in some countries artificial red dye is also called cochineal.
Supposedly, it’s all pretty far from actually eating bugs… but yuck!
Cool red bugs aside… The important thing for Bucky to learn from M3, is the concept of asking permission to eat Rob’s food (1st panel)!! (btw, ‘red bugs’ in the southern U.S. are usually ‘chiggers’)
Thought Mac was talking about one-celled animals (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus) and the Splenocytes used to color them.Enter Bucky “Botulism” Katt, the bad bacteria.
tonypezzano over 5 years ago
I try not to think of that…. natural colour though.
Breadboard over 5 years ago
Need an English to American dictionary ;-)
Herb Goldschmidt Premium Member over 5 years ago
Nick = stealTa = ThanksShufti (pronounced “shooftee” = a quick look (from Arabic, picked up by British troops in North Africa during World War II)
DennisinSeattle Premium Member over 5 years ago
At first I thought Mac was being polite, and assuming Rob was going off to do some personal business. The comments reminded me that “shuf” means “look” in Arabic. I had no idea it had been adopted into homeland slang. So Rob was going off to have a look at Google, as he said, and Mac was fully understanding of that.
jpayne4040 over 5 years ago
I don’t do yogurt, but if I did I would be Googling that now myself!
SusanSunshine Premium Member over 5 years ago
Cochineal and carmine are red food dyes extracted from the same tiny red bug…
Cochineal in particular has been used for centuries…. but its popularity had almost died out in the 20th century, replaced by synthetic red dyes…
until the most used of those, mostly red #2, came under fire in the late 70’s for being carcinogenic, and were replaced by weaker reds and/or real cochineal again.
I remember it was when my nephew was small that red M&M’s disappeared.
Natural food grade shellac comes from another tiny insect.. i think it’s called the lac, but I’m doing this from my fading memory.
It’s the natural food movement that made some manufacturers go back to bugs instead of chemicals….
but I’ve read that an anti-bug backlash, especially from vegetarians who consider them animals, has made some rethink that route too.
If you see cochineal, carmine or shellac in the ingredients, it may be bug extracts…. but in some countries artificial red dye is also called cochineal.
Supposedly, it’s all pretty far from actually eating bugs… but yuck!
YippiKiAyMofo over 5 years ago
The Truth About Red Food Coloring Made From Bugs
https://www.livescience.com/36292-red-food-dye-bugs-cochineal-carmine.html
Army_Nurse over 5 years ago
Cool red bugs aside… The important thing for Bucky to learn from M3, is the concept of asking permission to eat Rob’s food (1st panel)!! (btw, ‘red bugs’ in the southern U.S. are usually ‘chiggers’)
ericbutts74 over 5 years ago
Thought Mac was talking about one-celled animals (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus) and the Splenocytes used to color them.Enter Bucky “Botulism” Katt, the bad bacteria.
Adiraiju over 5 years ago
…What the hell, it’s protein.
yangeldf over 5 years ago
red food dye is indeed made from crushed beetle shells, of course, that’s only if you insist on all natural ingredients.
LrdSlvrhnd over 5 years ago
I’m pretty sure a Brit wanting something in my fridge would make me reconsider whether or not I did!