As salacious as it may sound, Starbucks’s use of cochineal beetles as food coloring in strawberry frappuccinos is not an unprecedented, or even uncommon, practice.

That's beetles as in ground up cochineal beetles — mostly found in Mexico and South America

Gross as that may sound, 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.

Cochineal is nothing new however. It's deemed safe by the US FDA and the extract is an additive found in a number of food and cosmetic products. The World Health Organization, however, found that the extract provokes a severe allergic reaction in some, while asthma may be triggered in others. :(

Thank goodness for me, several times I tried to order one of their strawberries and creme drinks, it was always unavailable.

Better late than never to find out.