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Why Tiny Cactus Bugs In Red Food Dye Are A $35 Billion Industry | Big Business | Business Insider

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Cochineals are tiny bugs that live on prickly pear cactuses. The acid in their guts makes a red dye used in textiles, cosmetics, and foods like M&Ms and Yoplait yogurt. Indigenous people across Latin America traded it for thousands of years. It can be found on the walls of archeological sites, in priceless paintings, and in the robes of kings. But today, Peru dominates the market, and Mexico’s cochineal farms are disappearing. We met a few of the country’s last farmers trying to keep the ancient tradition alive. MORE BIG BUSINESS VIDEOS: 10 Car Jobs You Never Knew Existed | Big Business | Insider Business    • 10 Car Jobs You Never Knew Existed | ...   Big Business Marathon 2022 | Big Business | Insider Business    • 21 Fascinating Industries Around The ...   Why It Costs $1 Million Per Day To Run One Of The World’s Biggest Cruise Ships | Big Business    • Why It Costs $1 Million Per Day To Ru...   ------------------------------------------- …...more
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Why Tiny Cactus Bugs In Red Food Dye Are A $35 Billion Industry | Big Business | Business Insider
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12,071,184Views
2023Jan 22
Cochineals are tiny bugs that live on prickly pear cactuses. The acid in their guts makes a red dye used in textiles, cosmetics, and foods like M&Ms and Yoplait yogurt. Indigenous people across Latin America traded it for thousands of years. It can be found on the walls of archeological sites, in priceless paintings, and in the robes of kings. But today, Peru dominates the market, and Mexico’s cochineal farms are disappearing. We met a few of the country’s last farmers trying to keep the ancient tradition alive. MORE BIG BUSINESS VIDEOS: 10 Car Jobs You Never Knew Existed | Big Business | Insider Business    • 10 Car Jobs You Never Knew Existed | ...   Big Business Marathon 2022 | Big Business | Insider Business    • 21 Fascinating Industries Around The ...   Why It Costs $1 Million Per Day To Run One Of The World’s Biggest Cruise Ships | Big Business    • Why It Costs $1 Million Per Day To Ru...   ------------------------------------------------------ #Cactus #BigBusiness #BusinessInsider Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more. Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: https://www.businessinsider.com Insider Business on Facebook:   / businessinsider   Insider Business on Instagram:   / insiderbusiness   Insider Business on Twitter:   / businessinsider   Insider Business on Snapchat:   / 5319643143   Insider Business on TikTok:   / businessinsider   Why Tiny Cactus Bugs In Red Food Dye Are A $35 Billion Industry | Big Business | Business Insider

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