This type of bug “plaguing” certain variants of coffee and pastries of the international coffee chain, Starbucks, does not need pest control services after all. After a few weeks of online protest that was started by a vegan woman who found out that Starbucks’ Strawberries & Creme Frappuccino contains cochineal extract, the company announced that they are to stop using the dried bugs as food color.

Cochineal is a scale insect that had been reared, harvested, dried and utilized for centuries as dye for fabrics, foods and cosmetics. Cochineal extract has been cited as an example of benefits derived from insects, in contrast to the harm and annoyance people often associate insects with. But this time, the “ewww factor” must have pushed Starbucks to strike cochineal dye off their list of ingredients, despite their being an all-natural alternative to synthetic coloring. It also made the cochineal insect less useful in the eyes of the general public.

Well, this goes to show how powerful online campaigns could be – i.e. ridding of bugs without the help of pest control professionals. LOL

 

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