by CHRISTINE ABRAHAM Staff Writer
Starbucks has vowed to stop using cochineal extract, a dried, crushed female bug found in Latin America, in their projects by June. Cochineal extract is used for its rosy, pink color, which serves as a dye. According to PETA, it may take as many as 70,000 cochineals to produce one pound of red dye. “Ew, that’s disgusting. The fact there is probably like a thousand bugs in my drink, and I didn’t even realize it,” said an anonymous freshman. The extract is used in products such as their Strawberry & Crème Frappuccino, Strawberry Banana Smoothie, Raspberry Swirl Cake, Birthday Cake Pop, Mini Donut with pink icing, and Red Velvet Whoopie Pie. Starbucks made the original switch from artificial coloring in January when it aggressively moved away from the use of any artificial ingredients in its food and drinks. Starbucks worked hard to improve the quality of its menu for the satisfaction of the customers. “At Starbucks, we strive to carry products that meet a variety of dietary lifestyles and needs. We also have the goal to minimize artificial ingredients in our products. While the strawberry base isn’t a vegan product, it helps us move away from artificial dyes,” said the Starbucks spokesperson. Unfortunately, many vegans are outraged and unhappy about the use of the extract, and think that it should not be labeled on the back of the mixture, but on the cup that is given to the customers. A vegan Starbucks barista outed the company when he alerted a vegan bloggers by posting a list of ingredients used in the company’s products. However, Starbucks is going to drop the bug-based ingredient from their menu. The company’s U.S. president, Cliff Burrows, says that bugs are coming out and tomato-based extract is coming in. Burrows states that by the end of June, the company will transition to use lycopene in its Strawberry & Crème Frappuccino and other dyed products. “We fell short of your expectations,” Burrows said in a statement on Thursday on the company’s “My Starbucks Idea” consumer site. “We are reformulating the affected products to assure the highest quality possible.” “I’m honestly so relieved that they’re getting rid of it. In June, I’ll finally be able to resume my favorite drink without worrying about any bugs,” said an anonymous sophomore. Starbucks will continue to satisfy their customers with their high-selling products. Vegans are more than happy that the beetle extract is out, and a new extract is in. “Starbucks clearly learned from its error after switching to a dye from insects,” says David Byer, senior corporate liaison at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. “Since no one, vegetarian or not, wants beetle juice in their Frap, everyone will soon be able to celebrate the fact that it’s gone for good.”