Starbucks sued for allegedly mislabeling 'sugar-free' protein drinks
Starbucks faces a proposed class-action lawsuit filed by consumers who claim the coffee chain mislabeled eight protein beverages as sugar-free. According to the court filing, these drinks contain between 13 and 21 grams of sugar originating from lactose, a naturally occurring milk sugar. Some drinks allegedly contain as much sugar as a Kit Kat bar or a Reese peanut butter cup. Starbucks denies the allegations, stating that the company does not add sugar to the beverages and utilizes sugar-free syrup for flavoring.
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- ✓ Starbucks faces a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging its Sugar-Free protein drinks contain substantial amounts of sugar.
- ✓ The lawsuit claims the beverages contain between 13 and 21 grams of sugar from milk or lactose.
- ✓ Starbucks denies the claims, stating it does not add sugar to the drinks and uses sugar-free syrup for flavoring.
What changed
Consumers filed a class-action lawsuit against Starbucks over the alleged presence of sugar in beverages labeled as sugar-free.
Live updates
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Starbucks Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Sugar-Free Protein Drinks
Starbucks faces a proposed class-action lawsuit filed by consumers who claim the coffee chain mislabeled eight protein beverages as sugar-free. According to the court filing, these drinks contain between 13 and 21 grams of sugar originating from lactose, a naturally occurring milk sugar. Some drinks allegedly contain as much sugar as a Kit Kat bar or a Reese peanut butter cup. Starbucks denies the allegations, stating that the company does not add sugar to the beverages and utilizes sugar-free syrup for flavoring.
Why it matters
The litigation targets menu labeling practices for popular cafe items marketed to health-conscious buyers seeking to avoid sugar. Regulatory definitions around terms like sugar-free often face scrutiny when products contain intrinsic sugars from dairy ingredients such as milk or lactose. The dispute highlights potential vulnerabilities in how food and beverage chains communicate nutritional profiles to consumers.
What is confirmed
- Starbucks faces a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging its Sugar-Free protein drinks contain substantial amounts of sugar.
- The lawsuit claims the beverages contain between 13 and 21 grams of sugar from milk or lactose.
- Starbucks denies the claims, stating it does not add sugar to the drinks and uses sugar-free syrup for flavoring.
What to watch next
- Further legal filings or motions from Starbucks defense counsel
- Potential court decisions regarding class certification
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (13)
- reuters.com — Starbucks sued over 'sugar-free' claims for protein beverages
- NBC News — Some sugar-free Starbucks drinks have as much sugar as a Kit Kat bar, lawsuit says
- Fox Business — Starbucks sued for allegedly mislabeling 'sugar-free' protein drinks
- Quartz — Starbucks sued over sugar-free protein drink labeling
- People.com — Starbucks Sued Over ‘Sugar-Free’ Protein Drink Labels
- ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos — Starbucks sued over alleged 'substantial amounts of sugar' in 'sugar-free' drinks, company denies claims
- Gizmodo — We Asked Starbucks Why Their 'Sugar-Free' Drinks Have Sugar and Now We're Just More Confused
- www.foxbusiness.com — Starbucks sued for allegedly mislabeling 'sugar-free' protein drinks - Fox Business
- abcnews.com — Starbucks sued over alleged 'substantial amounts of sugar' in 'sugar-free' drinks, company denies claims
- nypost.com — Starbucks sued for allegedly mislabeling 'sugar-free' protein drinks
- www.nbcnews.com — Starbucks lawsuit: Consumers sue over ‘sugar-free’ protein drinks containing sugar
- www.latimes.com — Starbucks sued over ‘sugar-free’ protein drinks that allegedly contain sugar
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