Would you like a complimentary beetle in your Frappuccino? That's the question barristas at Starbucks locations should be asking you the next time you order anything suspiciously pink.
The vegan community is peeved at the coffee giant this week for alleging that their products were 'vegan-friendly,' when according to the USA Today report, the company was found to use cochineal beetles as food colouring for its frappuccinos and certain smoothies. (The truth came out only because Starbucks wanted to move away from artificial colouring, and started using the 'natural' beetle extract.)
As with the pink slime controversy, the beetle-based food coloring is legal. It's got the FDA seal of approval and is used widely in the food industry. Not that customers are thrilled to know the additive is lurking in their food and beverages.
Managing director of the vegan Web site “This Dish Is Veg,” Daelyn Fortney even started a petition on Change.org to protest Starbucks’ use of the beetles.
In a case of he said, she said, Starbucks spokeswoman Linda Mills denied these products ever claimed to be vegan, as "there is always the possibility of cross-contamination with other animal-derived products.”
Does a little beetle extract bother you? Should companies be more upfront about their ingredients, or when it comes to your 'ccino, does what you don't know not hurt you?
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