One hundred-twenty-four samples of food products retailed in Korea were analysed using this method. Quantification of carmine was carried out using standard calibration curves and confirmed by comparing absorption spectra and retention time of the samples with carmine standard. The concentrations of carmine in food samples are shown in Table 2. It was detected from total of thirty food products and its contents ranged from N.D. to 973.9 ± 2.8 lg g1