Abstract: The stability of cochineal extract was investigated experimentally under different conditions.Results showed that the extract was stable to sunlight with over 50% preservation rate after 7 d.In the range of 4 ℃ to 100 ℃,it is also stable with over 95 % preservation rate after 8 h.The extract has high antioxidant ability,whose preservation rate declines slightly due to reducer.It is improved and preserved on color by common food additives.Except Fe3+,Fe2+,Ca2+ and Sn2+,its stability in water solution is not interrupted by other metal ions.Alkaline pH significantly influences its stability,and the higher the pH value,the lower the stability,but under acid condition it has high preservation rate.

Key words: cochineal extract, cchineal pigment, stability