A recent lawsuit filed against Starbucks alleges that the coffee chain falsely promoted eight protein beverages as “sugar-free,” despite containing 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, claims Starbucks aimed to exploit the popularity of protein products and customers’ dietary preferences.
The lawsuit argues that Starbucks’ labeling of these beverages as “Sugar-Free” is misleading, given the significant sugar content derived from lactose in milk. The lawsuit contends that by labeling these drinks as “Sugar-Free,” Starbucks is making deceptive claims that mislead consumers into purchasing the products.
Starbucks has refuted the claims, stating that they have consistently provided information regarding their protein beverages, sugar-free options, and nutritional content. The company intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations.
The lawsuit lists eight Starbucks protein beverages labeled as sugar-free, including various flavors of protein lattes and protein matcha drinks. Despite being marketed as sugar-free, each beverage contains substantial amounts of sugar, ranging from 13 to 21 grams per serving.
The issue highlighted in the lawsuit is not the source of the sugar but rather the misleading labeling of the products as “sugar-free.” U.S. federal law prohibits beverages containing more than 0.5 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving from being labeled as sugar-free, regardless of the sugar source. Similarly, Canadian regulations require products labeled as sugar-free to contain less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving.
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 consumers from California, New York, and Washington who purchased Starbucks’ sugar-free protein drinks.