A recent lawsuit filed in a Seattle federal court alleges that Starbucks falsely advertised eight protein beverages as “sugar-free,” even though they contain between 13 and 21 grams of sugar per venti-size serving due to the naturally occurring sugar in milk. The lawsuit accuses Starbucks of trying to take advantage of the protein trend and customers’ nutritional preferences.
Starbucks has defended itself, stating that it has consistently provided information about its protein beverages, sugar-free options, and nutritional content. The company plans to vigorously defend against the lawsuit’s claims, which it believes have no merit.
The drinks in question include sugar-free vanilla protein latte, sugar-free caramel protein latte, sugar-free vanilla protein matcha, sugar-free caramel protein matcha, iced sugar-free vanilla protein latte, iced sugar-free caramel protein latte, iced sugar-free vanilla protein matcha, and iced sugar-free caramel protein matcha. These beverages are available on both Starbucks’ U.S. and Canada websites under the “protein beverages” section.
Despite being labeled as “sugar-free,” each of these beverages contains sugar, ranging from 13 to 21 grams per venti-size serving. The lawsuit argues that the issue lies in the misleading sugar-free labeling, as the drinks contain milk, which naturally contains lactose, a form of sugar.
According to U.S. federal law, beverages labeled as “sugar-free” should contain less than 0.5 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving, a threshold that Starbucks’ drinks exceed. Similarly, Canadian regulations require products labeled as sugar-free to contain less than 0.5 grams of sugars per reference amount and serving size.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for false advertising and violations of consumer protection laws. It also aims to have the lawsuit certified as a class action and demands a trial by jury. The complaint was filed on behalf of three consumers who purchased Starbucks’ sugar-free protein drinks in California, New York, and Washington.
The allegations highlight the importance of accurate food labeling, particularly for individuals who are health-conscious or have dietary restrictions related to sugar intake.