The horrifying ‘protein’ source that’s likely hiding in your coffee

Is there something mo’ hiding in your cuppa joe? A woman named Tay went to the doctor recently to address problems with her GI tract. “They thought I had Crohn’s disease, a gluten allergy, high [or] low blood pressure. you name it,” she recounted on TikTok. It turns out it was her coffee she was allergic to — and not the coffee itself, but an unexpected ingredient. A woman who went to the doctor with GI issues found the problem was in her coffee. Farknot Architect – stock.adobe.com The ingredient was cochineal, a scale insect that lives on cactuses. When crushed up, they create a deep red color. If you see “carmine”, “crimson lake” or “Natural Red 4” on an ingredient list, it’s made from the same bug. “And then the doctor laughs, [they said] a little protein never hurt nobody,” she said. “