Starbucks is facing a federal lawsuit alleging that several of its drinks marketed as sugar free actually contain amounts of sugar comparable to a Kit Kat candy bar. The legal action focuses specifically on the company’s hot and iced protein lattes and protein matcha beverages in caramel and vanilla flavors. According to the filing, these drinks can contain anywhere from 13 to 21 grams of sugar per serving, leading plaintiffs to argue that no reasonable consumer would expect such high levels of sweetener in a product explicitly labeled as sugar free.
Lawyers representing consumers from California, New York, and Washington argue that this isn’t simply a matter of hidden nutritional data, but rather a case of blatant and misleading naming conventions. Steve Berman, a partner at Hagens Berman, noted that for individuals managing diabetes or strict health regimens, this kind of labeling discrepancy is more than just an oversight; it is a significant health concern. The lawsuit seeks financial damages for affected customers and demands that the coffee giant stop using the term sugar free for any product containing actual sugar.
In response to the allegations, Starbucks has denied misleading its customers and vowed to fight the claims in court. The company explained that while they use sugar free syrups for flavor, the sugars found in these specific drinks come naturally from the protein boosted milk used in the recipes. They maintain that their nutritional information has always been clearly available via their app, website, and physical menus throughout the promotional process.
While some listings on the Starbucks website previously described these items as sugar free, they also simultaneously listed the total gram count of sugar per drink and specified that there was no added sugar. This nuance lies at the heart of the dispute, pitting corporate definitions of additive sweeteners against consumer expectations of what a zero sugar label should actually mean.