Starbucks Faces Lawsuit Over Sugar Content in Protein Drinks

<p>Starbucks is facing a lawsuit regarding its "sugar-free" protein drinks, with consumers alleging that some contain nearly as much sugar as a candy bar.</p><p>The proposed class-action lawsuit was filed on October 2 in federal court in Washington state and targets eight hot and iced Starbucks protein beverages, including the Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte, Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte, and protein matcha drinks.</p><p>The lawsuit claims that these beverages contain between 13 and 21 grams of sugar in a venti-sized serving, arguing that "no reasonable consumer" would expect a drink labeled "sugar-free" to contain that amount of sugar.</p><p>The suit was initiated by three consumers who purchased the drinks in California, New York, and Washington. It seeks to prevent Starbucks from using the term "sugar-free" to describe products that contain sugar.</p><p>Starbucks disputes the allegations. A spokesperson for the company stated, "We believe these claims have no merit." The spokesperson added that Starbucks has consistently provided information about its protein beverages, sugar-free options, customization choices, and nutritional content through various channels, including product announcements, menus, marketing materials, and the Starbucks app.</p><p>The company asserts that the sugar in the drinks comes from naturally occurring lactose in protein-boosted milk rather than added sugar, and that sugar-free syrups are used for flavoring.</p><p>Nicolette Pace, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator based in New York, noted that lactose is a naturally occurring sugar and is not classified as an added sugar. She emphasized that "sugar-free" and "no added sugar" are not synonymous.</p><p>Dr. Michael Aziz, an internist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, explained that under FDA regulations, products labeled "sugar-free" must generally contain less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving. He added that "no added sugar" means that sugars or sugar-containing ingredients have not been added during processing or preparation, although naturally occurring sugars can still be present.</p><p>The plaintiffs argue that they paid a premium for products advertised as sugar-free compared to similar alternatives. Danny Karon, an Ohio-based class-action attorney not involved in the case, stated, "The challenge will be convincing the court — and then the jury — that consumers relied on Starbucks' alleged misrepresentations when making their purchases."</p><p>Experts Aziz and Pace warned that other Starbucks specialty drinks can also contain significant amounts of sugar, highlighting the importance of considering nutrition information, serving size, and add-ons such as whipped cream. For example, a venti Java Chip Frappuccino can contain nearly 80 grams of sugar, approximately 20 teaspoons. They also mentioned that drinks like the Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino and seasonal options such as the Peppermint Mocha and Pumpkin Spice Latte can have similarly high sugar content.</p><p>Pace noted that the American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar to about 6 teaspoons (25 grams) per day for most women and 9 teaspoons (36 grams) for men, although these recommendations apply to added sugars rather than naturally occurring sugars like lactose.</p><p>For consumers aiming to reduce their sugar intake, Pace suggested keeping orders simple and opting for smaller sizes, while Aziz recommended choosing simpler drinks like a latte or cappuccino if one desires a treat.</p>