[其他飲食] Starbugs? Strawberry Frappuccino Colored by Insects 2006, pink, intended, company, started

eddie

Luzmila Ruiz holds a spool of dyed yarn, made from the cochineal insect,which is crushed in her hand as well as a ball made up of  thousands of crushedinsects, in this Nov. 2006 file photo.

You can get your Starbucks StrawberryFrappuccino venti, grande or tall. You just can't get it without insects,to which it owes its pink

and rosy color.

In what the company, in a statement, sayswas a move intended to reduce its use of artificial ingredients,Starbucks has started using

cochineal extract to supply its Frappuccinos'strawberry hue. Cochineal extract is derived from grindingup insects, the dried bodies of

cochineal bugs, found primarily in Mexicoand South America. Cochineal dye has been used as a coloring agentsince the 15th century.

Before you get all cold-and-botheredabout your insect-Frappuccino, be advised: Cochineal is considered safe by theFDA, and is widely

used for coloration in jams, preserves, meat, marinades,alcoholic drinks, bakery products, cookies, cheddar cheese and many other food

products.

It has been found by the World HealthOrganization, however, to cause asthma in some people, and in some others anallergic reaction.

Starbucks' statement, issued partly inresponse to vegans' asking if the use of this ingredient makes StrawberryFrappuccino vegan or not,

reads in full:

"At Starbucks, we strive to carryproducts that meet a variety of dietary lifestyles and needs. We also have thegoal to minimize artificial

ingredients in our products. While the strawberrybase isn't a vegan product, it helps us move away from artificial dyes.

"Many Starbucks ingredients can becombined to create a beverage free from animal-derived products; however, weare unable to guarantee

this due to the potential cross-contamination withother animal-derived products in our retail locations."

A vegetarian website,ThisDishIsVegetarian.com, brands the strawberry insecto-Frapp non-vegan.