Starbucks ‘Transitioning Away' From Bug Dye - East Idaho News
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Starbucks ‘Transitioning Away’ From Bug Dye

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Getty B 051911 Starbucks?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1334868273318Spencer Platt/Getty Images(SEATTLE) — Starbucks announced that it is “transitioning away” from using cochineal extract, derived from grinding up dried bodies of cochineal bugs, as a dye in its strawberry-flavored products.

“After a thorough, yet fastidious, evaluation, I am pleased to report that we are reformulating the affected products to assure the highest quality possible,” Cliff Burrows, president, Americas, wrote on the Starbucks website.

Burrows said he expects to be “fully transitioned to lycopene, a natural, tomato-based extract,” in the company’s Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino beverage and Strawberry Banana Smoothie. He said the company is “transitioning away” from the use of cochineal extract in its Raspberry Swirl Cake, Birthday Cake Pop, Mini Donut with pink icing, and Red Velvet Whoopie Pie.

Echoing what Burrows stated on March 29, after news broke about the use of the extract, he said on Thursday, “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.”

The company initially said the extract reduced its use of artificial ingredients by using the extract from the insects, found primarily in Mexico and South America. Cochineal dye has been used as a coloring agent since the 15th century and is considered safe by the FDA. It 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 Health Organization, however, to cause asthma in some people and an allergic reaction in others.

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