If you’re a fan of any Starbucks products that have a pinkish hue (strawberry frappuccinos, raspberry swirl cakes, birthday cake pops, etc), I hate to break it to you, but you’ve been eating beetles. More specifically, a red food coloring made from crushed up cochineals, a tiny bug found in Latin America. But now, thanks to an anonymous vegan barista who blew the lid off Beetlegate, sparking a Change.org petition and public outcry, Starbucks has announced that it will be taking the creepy coloring off the menu, effective by the end of June. The cochineal extract will be replaced by lycopene, which is derived from tomatoes. As relieved as I am that Starbucks responded to customer concerns, there is a part of me that’s a little sad I will never be able to order a beetle juice frappuccino. It’s the end of an era, you guys. [Lime Life]
