Starbucks Coffee Company is a coffeehouse chain that began in Seattle, Washington in 1971. There are many Starbucks outlets in New York City, especially in Manhattan.
 
The Starbucks nickname of “Starbugs” has been cited in print since at least March 2012, when it was reported that the Starbucks Strawberry Frappuccino used cochineal extract (from bugs) to get the strawberry color.
 
Other Starbucks nicknames include “Charbucks” (since 1994), “Starfucks” (since 1995) and “Fourbucks”/“Fivebucks” (since 1998).
   
     
Wikipedia: Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) is an international coffee company and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 19,435 stores in 58 countries, including 12,781 in the United States, 1,241 in Canada, 1,062 in Japan, 976 in Great Britain and 645 in China.
 
Starbucks sells drip brewed coffee, espresso-based hot drinks, other hot and cold drinks, coffee beans, salads, hot and cold sandwiches and panini, pastries, snacks, and items such as mugs and tumblers. Through the Starbucks Entertainment division and Hear Music brand, the company also markets books, music, and film. Many of the company’s products are seasonal or specific to the locality of the store. Starbucks-brand ice cream and coffee are also offered at grocery stores.
 
ABC News
Starbugs? Strawberry Frappuccino Colored by Insects
By Alan Farnham | ABC News – Mon, Mar 26, 2012.
You can get your Starbucks Strawberry Frappuccino venti, grande or tall. You just can’t get it without insects, to which it owes its pink and rosy color.
 
In what the company, in a statement, says was a move intended to reduce its use of artificial ingredients, Starbucks has started using cochineal extract to supply its Frappuccinos’ strawberry hue. Cochineal extract is derived from grinding up insects, the dried bodies of cochineal bugs, found primarily in Mexico and South America. Cochineal dye has been used as a coloring agent since the 15th century.
 
Before you get all cold-and-bothered about your insect-Frappuccino, be advised: Cochineal is considered safe by the FDA, and is widely used for coloration in jams, preserves, meat, marinades, alcoholic drinks, bakery products, cookies, cheddar cheese and many other food products.
 
Seattle (WA) Post-Intelligencer
Starbugs? Bug extract behind Strawberry Frappuccino’s pink hue
By KOMO-TV
Updated 09:54 p.m., Monday, March 26, 2012
SEATTLE—A surprising ingredient is responsible for the rosy hue of the Starbucks Strawberry Frappuccino: insects.
 
The company, in an effort to reduce use of artificial ingredients, has turned to cochineal extract—dried and ground remains of the cochineal bug, according to according to ABC News.
 
The extract is often used as food dye; however, the World Health Organization has warned it could trigger asthma or an allergic reaction in some people, ABC said.
 
CBS News
Starbucks Or Starbugs? Petition Urges Coffee Giant To Stop Using Insects As Coloring
March 27, 2012 4:38 PM
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Is it Starbucks or starbugs?
 
An online petition is being circulated urging the coffee giant to stop using a red dye — said to be made from dried, female cochineal insects — in its strawberries & crème frappuccino as well as it strawberry smoothies.
 
CBS News reported the alleged use of creepy crawlies in Starbucks drinks came to light via the website thisdishisvegetarian.com.
 
A barista, who works at a Starbucks location, wrote the the website saying the aforementioned drinks are not vegan and that the “strawberry sauce we use contains ‘cochineal extract.’”