Starbucks Beetle Extract: Chain Ditches Controversial Insect Ingredient [UPDATED]

Starbucks' Strawberries & Creme Frappuccino currently contains cochineal extract, a product made from dried and crushed beetles.

UPDATE: Starbucks has announced it will no longer use cochineal extract in its Strawberries & Creme Frappuccino drinks and other products, instead opting for a tomato-based ingredient called lycopene.

Cliff Burrows, Starbucks' U.S. president, on Thursday released the following statement on the company's blog:

As I first shared on March 29, we’ve learned that we fell short of your expectations by using natural cochineal extract as a colorant in four food and two beverage offerings in the United States. Our commitment to you, our customers, is to serve the highest quality products available. As our customers you expect and deserve better – and we promise to do better.

After a thorough, yet fastidious, evaluation, I am pleased to report that we are reformulating the affected products to assure the highest quality possible. Our expectation is to be fully transitioned to lycopene, a natural, tomato-based extract, in the strawberry sauce (base) used in our Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino® blended beverage and Strawberry Banana Smoothie. Likewise, we are transitioning away from the use of cochineal extract in our food offerings which currently contain it (Raspberry Swirl Cake, Birthday Cake Pop, Mini Donut with pink icing, and Red Velvet Whoopie Pie).

This transition will occur over time as we finalize revisions and manage production. Our intention is to be fully transitioned from existing product inventories to revised food and beverage offerings near the end of June across the U.S.

Previously:

Starbucks may soon cave to pressure and reformulate its Strawberries & Creme Frappuccino, which last week was revealed to contain cochineal extract -- dried and crushed beetles commonly used as dye.

The story originally broke on the website thisdishisvegetarian.com, where a vegan barista posted a list of new ingredients in the drink and other and strawberry-flavored smoothies.

In an interview with "CBS This Morning," Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz explained that the product will likely be changed:

"No good deed goes undone. We tried to embrace an all-natural method for this product. In fact, we discovered that most women in America wearing red lipstick have this ingredient. It's everywhere, it's all-natural. We are examining it and probably will reformulate (the drink). ... We're looking at (alternative ingredients). We're going to make the right decision."

Much concern stems from a statement released by Starbucks, which stated that although the cochineal extract could be swapped out for products that are not derived from animals, the company was unable to guarantee anything as vegan because of potential cross-contamination.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[imdrfreak]

10:14 PM on 04/21/2012

To the people who are claiming that Red 40 is the same as cochineal, it is NOT. Red40 is a chemical dye (6-hydroxy-5-[(2-methoxy-5-methyl-4-sulfophenyl)azo]-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid) which derives from coal tar.

[northhouse1121]

05:38 PM on 04/20/2012

Most blueberry muffins have used it 4 yrs.Check your labels

[bkmcgehee]

03:41 PM on 04/20/2012

Red #40 is made from the bugs and also can contribute to behavior problems in children. ADD/ADHD. Ever heard of Adult ADHD? My oldest is 12 and occassionally likes a cup of flavored coffee. I would never pay the price for Starbucks for him but the side effects of some people consuming red #40 are not new. Last I knew some other countries have banned the use of red #40. It is really hard to avoid consuming. I agree that artificial dye is not needed. So the color won't be as vibrant but the color will be true in a Strawberries and Cream labeled drink as will the flavor. By the way, red dye #40 is used to make the colors orange, and purple too. Lately I have seen more use of beet juice.

[newpaltzcru]

11:12 AM on 05/07/2012

The only thing that contributes to ADD/ADHD is a lack of discipline on the part of parents and the sitting down of kids in front of televisions and video games as a babysitter. My kids eat twizzlers every day and they have not had any problems focusing.

[bkmcgehee]

12:02 PM on 05/07/2012

Then your kids are not affected by Red #40. One of my children is affected by it the other is not. Neither of them watches much TV or plays video games.

[rusters]

03:04 PM on 04/20/2012

This whole thing bugs me! Hahahaha

I eat red lipstick off pretty girls lips. Been doing it for many, many years and have no plans on stopping. YUUUMMYYYY!!!

[catboycolo]

02:44 PM on 04/20/2012

sooo...carcinogenous artificial flavors trump bugs? Where is the nearest Dunkins'?

[mds308]

01:46 PM on 04/20/2012

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the last time a blended strawberries in milk with ice cream it turned pink. Why does this need color made from any source? I forgot. Artificial flavors need artificial colors. By the way I love Starbucks Sumatra Coffee that I make at home for 25 cents per cup.

[Ricardo Martin]

01:31 PM on 04/20/2012

If only the legs and husks didn't get stuck in my teeth. =(
I'm ok with roasted/seasoned worms, though. Had some at my local zoo.

[Rad666]

01:17 PM on 04/20/2012

Starbugs?

[mds308]

01:53 PM on 04/20/2012

Beetle Juice

[europeanmind]

12:34 PM on 04/20/2012

$5 DRINK EQUAL TO 2 LB FRESH STRAWBERRIES AND NEEDED SUBSTITUTION, CORPORATE GREED , CAN UNDERSTAND MC DONALDS WHEN SUBSTITUTION FOR MEAT YOU PAY JUST $1 ,BUT FOR DRINK $5 AND IS FAKE

[dew1500]

12:28 PM on 04/20/2012

I think they should just drop a full dried beetle on top as a garnish. Kind of like the worm in tequila. I can hear people in Starbucks chanting now. "Eat - the - bee - tle, eat - the - bee - tle". And cheers when the deed is done.

[mds308]

01:50 PM on 04/20/2012

Cabochon Coffee.

[europeanmind]

12:25 PM on 04/20/2012

fake coffee with fake Italian names, for fake suburban girls going to fake Italian chains and living in fake tuscany homes but around corner isfamily owned Italian deli with real coffee without bugs

[Ricardo Martin]

01:25 PM on 04/20/2012

Yep... a family owned Italian deli with real meat and real cream. No vegan wants that.

[europeanmind]

01:38 PM on 04/20/2012

Italian meat is so good even vegan can't resist

[Blonde4eva7]

12:03 PM on 04/20/2012

That's pretty gross. I am glad I've never eaten/drank any of those affected products. Wonder why they were ok with using crushed beetles in the first place?

[robert9671]

12:06 PM on 04/20/2012

You eat crushed beetles every time you ingest red #40 which is in many foods.

[DD LifeCoach]

10:56 AM on 04/20/2012

What's the big deal? It's in most make up that women wear anyway.

[jcbigg]

11:29 AM on 04/20/2012

dd, While people eat bugs all the time, your comment made me wonder, are you eating your makeup?

[DD LifeCoach]

11:42 AM on 04/20/2012

of course! Over a lifetime women eat several tubes of lipstick. It is on our lips after all.

[tobyfelix40]

10:56 AM on 04/20/2012

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

[eshingn2]

10:43 AM on 04/20/2012

Cochineal insets off the prickly pear cactus for crimson red is an ANCIENT MESOAMERICAN practice that has been used for thousands of years.
I would rather have that then some artificial dye. Grow up people.
We consume insects and small organisms all the time without knowing it.

[ttoozz]

12:17 PM on 04/20/2012

I woder if those who react so strongly to the use of these natual colorings can wrap their heads around alternative petrolem by-products?

[shifterkartdrvr]

01:09 PM on 04/20/2012

Sure...come up with a viable plan instead of sinking money into a dark hole.

Instead of wishing it so....come up with a plan.