A recent lawsuit alleges that Starbucks falsely marketed eight protein beverages as “sugar-free” when they actually contain between 13 and 21 grams of sugar per venti-size serving due to the naturally occurring sugar in milk. The lawsuit, filed in a Seattle federal court, accuses Starbucks of taking advantage of the protein trend and customer preferences.
Starbucks responded, stating that the claims in the lawsuit have no merit and that they have consistently provided clear information about their protein beverages, sugar-free options, and nutritional content. The spokesperson mentioned that Starbucks intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations.
The drinks in question that are labeled as sugar-free include various protein latte and matcha options. Despite being listed under “no added sugar options,” each beverage currently features “sugar-free” in its title on both U.S. and Starbucks Canada websites.
The lawsuit argues that despite the naturally occurring sugar in milk, Starbucks misleadingly labels the drinks as “sugar-free,” which could deceive consumers. U.S. federal law prohibits using “sugar-free” for beverages with more than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving, while Canadian regulations stipulate less than 0.5 grams of sugars per stated serving size for sugar-free labeling.
Consumers are increasingly conscious of sugar content for health reasons, making clear labeling crucial. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for false advertising and violations of consumer protection laws, aiming to represent affected consumers in a class-action lawsuit.