Vegans Protest Starbucks Frappuccino
Starbucks has vegans in an uproar because one of the all-natural ingredients it uses to color frappuccinos is a little more creepy-crawly than some would like.
A barista posted on vegan website thisdishisveg.com that the strawberry syrup used in Starbucks’ Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino uses Cochineal extract. The natural food coloring is made from ground up Cochineal beetles, a South American insect. The dye is approved by the USDA and used in everything from Pop Tarts to some Yoplait yogurt flavors to cosmetics.
The extract has been used for centuries to dye fabric and foods. Starbucks switched to the Cochineal extract in January when it moved away from using artificial flavoring in products.
