BUG-FREE

Starbucks Cuts Insects From Ingredients

After protests over bug-extract use as food coloring.

Regarding this news brief, we apologize in advance to those who have been sucking down Starbucks’s strawberry frappuccinos. The world’s largest coffee chain announced Wednesday that it will discontinue its use of cochineal extract, derived from beetles, to color its drinks and pastries after more than 6,500 people signed a petition requesting Starbucks stop using insects in their ingredients, arguing that it’s not vegan (for soy versions) and that consumers “don’t want crushed bugs in their designer drinks.” The company’s U.S. president, Cliff Burrows, said the bug extract will be replaced with a tomato-based extract in its strawberry drinks and red-colored pastries by June.