Have you ever wondered how Starbucks makes their Strawberry Frappuccinos look so vibrantly pink? The pink hue is thanks to crushed up insects, according to new information provided by the coffee chain giant.

In a statement released by Starbucks, the company has revealed that they use cochineal extract, which is the ground-up bodies of insects, as a dye for the popular rose-coloured beverage. Bugs from mainly Mexico and South America are dried out before they are ground and used in the milky-based Frappuccino drink.

As stomach-turning as it may sound, the ingredient is in fact harmless. Commonly used to help liven up the dull hues of jams, meats, cheese, baked goods, alcoholic drinks and more, cochineal extract has been used as a colouring agent in food and drinks for centuries. It has been deemed safe by the United States’ Food and Drug Administration.

Starbucks said it had decided to use cochineal extract to help limit the use of artificial ingredients in its products. ‘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.’

But the all-natural matter is not entirely free of health risks. The World Health Organisation has found that cochineal extract may cause asthma in some people. Others may see an allergic reaction.

Vegan fans may not be happy with its inclusion either. ThisDishIsVegetarian.com, an animal rights and eco-friendly news site, labels the extract non-vegan.

【新闻快讯】咖啡里有虫子？根据美国媒体报道，星巴克连锁咖啡店为了减少使用人造色素，宣布改用胭脂虫提取物为草苺星冰乐饮品加色。导师指出，这种昆虫着色剂可能会令哮喘患者过敏。

报道引述星巴克的声明称，采用了胭脂虫提取物为草苺星冰乐加色，以胭脂虫的天然色素取代人造色素。胭脂虫主要来自墨西哥和南美地区，晒干后被用于红色饮品的食用染料。星巴克重申，以胭脂虫加色的做法对人体无害，已经被美国食品及药物管理局（FDA）证实安全。

有导师指出，这种加色方法虽然被广泛用于果酱、酒精饮品等，但世界卫生组织已经发现，胭脂虫可能令部分哮喘患者出现过敏反应。

星巴克用胭脂虫提取剂作为着色剂的消息还激怒了一些素食团体。让这些素食主义者吃惊的是，当他们在星巴克中特意点一杯不含牛奶的草莓味饮料时，他们原以为是不含任何动物产品的，事实上却不是“素食”。

【胭脂虫小科普】

胭脂虫，寄生在多刺的仙人掌上，通常形成集群，背有白色蜡粉和丝线状覆盖物，明显易见。胭脂虫体内含胭脂红酸(C22H20O13)，可以制成胭脂红色素广泛地用于食品、化妆品、药品等多种行业中。