There have been worldwide expressions of disapproval over the use of a pink colouring ingredient in Starbucks’ Strawberry Frappuccino drinks. A statement by Starbucks claimed that cochineal is used, which is a dye made up of the crushed bodies of insects. The insects are usually sourced from Mexico and South America before being dried out then ground up for use. “At Starbucks, we strive to carry products that meet a variety of dietary lifestyles and needs,” the statement read. “While the strawberry base isn’t a vegan product, it helps us move away from artificial dyes.”
Neither kosher or vegetarian, cochineal is a common ingredient of sweets, biscuits, jams and more. Its inclusion in the Frappucinos has angered the team at Thisdishisvegetarian.com who contacted Starbucks when the chain unveiled its “However-You-Want-It Frappuccino”. At that time, Starbucks offered to use soya milk, instead of dairy milk, for vegans, but failed to mention that the strawberry drinks would still not be vegetarian or vegan due to the colouring.
The good news is that Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has now announced that the coffee-shop chain is considering replacing cochineal with a vegetarian alternative.
If you’re worried about what you’re consuming, UK website Barnivore allows you to search for animal-free drinks, and the Animal-Free Shopper (updated annually) is a great guide to what’s vegan and what’s not in the world of food, drinks and household products. And in coffee shops it’s always best to ask.