After a vegan Starbucks barista revealed that crushed beetles were among the ingredients for the coffee chain’s stawberry frappucinos and smoothies to thisdishisvegetarian.com, the website broke the news to the public and launched a petition.
Starbucks responded by saying they are making an effort to switch to “all-natural ingredients,” and that vegans who want their soy frappucino or smoothies sans crushed bugs might face cross-contamination in their beverages anyway since Starbucks has dairy at their locations. Not quite the response you were hoping for, I’m sure.
Now, though, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has stated that the company will “likely” stop using the extract, although he didn’t seem to take animal advocates’ concerns too seriously. Schultz told CBS News, “No good deed goes undone. We tried to embrace an all-natural method for this product. In fact, we discovered that most women in America wearing red lipstick have this ingredient. It’s everywhere, it’s all-natural. We are examining it and probably will reformulate (the drink). … We’re looking at (alternative ingredients). We’re going to make the right decision.”
His statement about cochineal extract being commonly used in red lipstick is true, though. It is also commonly found in other cosmetic and food products, according to the FDA.
Watch Schultz in the CBS News video below (this topic begins at 5:42).
About Jennifer Mishler
Jennifer is an animal advocate and activist. She is a volunteer coordinator with The Girls Gone Green, a nonprofit organization advocating for animals rights, veganism, and environmentalism. She is also an Onshore Volunteer with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and a volunteer with CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm, a nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates farm animals. Along with writing for Ecorazzi, she writes about veganism and animal rights on her blog, A Dog's Eye View. She lives in Jacksonville, FL with her husband and their three animal friends. Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @jennygoneveganView all posts by Jennifer Mishler →
