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。

　　咖啡里有蟲子？根據美國媒體報道，星巴克連鎖咖啡店為了減少使用人造色素，宣布改用胭脂蟲提取物為草苺星冰樂飲品加色。專家指出，這種昆蟲著色劑可能會令哮喘患者過敏。

　　報道引述星巴克的聲明稱，采用了胭脂蟲提取物為草苺星冰樂加色，以胭脂蟲的天然色素取代人造色素。胭脂蟲主要來自墨西哥和南美地區，曬干后被用于紅色飲品的食用染料。星巴克重申，以胭脂蟲加色的做法對人體無害，已經被美國食品及藥物管理局(FDA)證實安全。

　　有專家指出，這種加色方法雖然被廣泛用于果醬、酒精飲品等，但世界衛生組織已經發現，胭脂蟲可能令部分哮喘患者出現過敏反應。

　　星巴克用胭脂蟲提取劑作為著色劑的消息還激怒了一些素食團體。讓這些素食主義者吃驚的是，當他們在星巴克中特意點一杯不含牛奶的草莓味飲料時，他們原以為是不含任何動物產品的，事實上卻不是“素食”。

　　【胭脂蟲小科普】

　　胭脂蟲，寄生在多刺的仙人掌上，通常形成集群，背有白色蠟粉和絲線狀覆蓋物，明顯易見。胭脂蟲體內含胭脂紅酸(C22H20O13)，可以制成胭脂紅色素廣泛地用于食品、化妝品、藥品等多種行業中。