Starbucks has Bugs in Their Frappuccinos?

It kind of sounds "yucky" doesn't it, ground up cochineal beetles in your drink!

But, yes, they're in there at Starbucks.  And, this has the vegan community seeing red over what Starbucks recently began using to color its Strawberry Frappuccinos: beetles.

Actually, it's a common, government-approved food coloring used widely throughout the food industry. It's in everything from some Yoplait yogurts to three Kellogg's Pop-Tarts flavors.

Starbucks has been trying to move away from artificial ingredients and go natural, or, green, as you will.  Well, this has become a PR nightmare.  Try to something good and someone will get you.

Here's what happened.  Daelyn Fortney, co-founder of the vegan website ThisDishIsVeg.com, was informed of the change by an anonymous Starbucks barista. She wants Starbucks to go back to using a vegan coloring like red beet, black carrots or purple sweet potatoes. She's posted a petition from her group on the website Change.org, under the heading, "Starbucks: Stop using bugs to color your strawberry colored drinks." Late Wednesday, it had 779 signatures.

"We're not trying to cause any problems," said Fortney.   "Our point is, vegans are drinking this and it's not vegan."

But Starbucks says it's simply trying to do the right thing.  And, nutrition experts say it's the right idea, but the wrong execution. "Starbucks should be praised for getting rid of artificial ingredients," says Michael Jacobson, at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. But since some folks have allergic reactions to insects, he says, "Strawberry Frapuccinno should be colored with strawberries."

Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition at New York University, says she's not concerned. "This is pretty far down on my list of outrageous food issues."

So what about you?  Now that you know there are ground up beetles in your Frappuccino, will you still drink it, or is it just too "yucky?"