There’s nothing sweet about this.
Starbucks is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit over protein drinks marketed as “sugar-free” that allegedly contain anywhere from 13 to 21 grams of sugar.
The apparent contradiction has left consumers scratching their heads — and wondering what’s really in their cups.
As of Wednesday, Oct. 7, Starbucks’ website lists eight protein lattes and matcha drinks as “sugar-free.”
But take a closer look at the nutrition information, and things get a little less clear.
A 16-ounce “sugar-free caramel protein matcha,” for instance, lists 16 grams of sugar.
A 20-ounce “sugar-free vanilla protein latte,” meanwhile, reportedly contains 16 grams of sugar.
That’s more sugar than you’ll find in a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, which has 11 grams, or a glazed Krispy Kreme donut, which has 10 grams.
The numbers are at the heart of the lawsuit, which accuses Starbucks of using “false, deceptive and unlawful” naming and marketing for the drinks.
The complaint further alleges that the chain violated federal labeling regulations, which prohibit using “sugar-free” on beverages containing more than 0.5 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving.
“Twenty-one grams is hardly ‘sugar-free,’” Steve Berman, co-founder and managing partner of Hagens Berman, said in a press release.
The law firm brought the lawsuit last week in federal court in Seattle on behalf of three consumers who purchased the protein drinks in California, New York and Washington.
“Consumers avoid sugar for various reasons whether that be general health, diabetes and blood glucose levels or other factors, and for many, a staunch mislabeling like this is significant,” Berman added.
“Beverages with this much sugar are like drinking a candy bar.”
Starbucks isn’t buying it.
“We believe these claims have no merit,” a spokesperson for the company told The Post.
“Starbucks has consistently and clearly provided information about its protein beverages, sugar-free options, customization choices, and nutritional content across product announcements, menus, marketing materials, Starbucks.com and the Starbucks app, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this matter.”
So what’s really in the cup?
The issue, it seems, comes down to wording.
Starbucks says the drinks in question contain lactose, a naturally occurring sugar found in the protein-boosted milk used in the beverages.
The company says it doesn’t add sugar to the beverages and instead uses sugar-free syrup for flavoring.
And while the drinks’ individual names describe them as “sugar-free,” Starbucks’ website places them under a “no added sugar options” section.
That distinction has prompted some online users to argue that the “sugar-free” label refers to the syrup used — not the entire beverage.
“All of the “sugar-free” protein lattes are labeled “sugar-free vanilla protein latte/match” or “sugar free caramel protein latte/matcha” the sugar-free label is before the syrup. It does not say the drink is sugar free,” one TikToker noted.
“It’s called a sugar free (syrup) protein latte/matcha indicating the syrup used is sugar free not the [whole] drink as most know milk has natural sugar,” another wrote.
But others argue it’s not that simple.
“Most of y’all are missing the point they marketed it as sugar free, it’s false advertising,” commented one user.
“I get what ppl are saying, but it should be ‘no added sugar’ instead of ‘sugar free,’” another wrote.
“People forgetting diabetes is a thing and that ordering something that is sugar free but actually has sugar is not a good thing,” chimed in a third.
An expert weighs in
For an expert take, The Post turned to Dana Angelo White, a registered dietitian and certified athletic trainer.
She didn’t mince words: “This entire thing is silly. I don’t blame consumers for being a bit confused, but Starbucks isn’t lying to anyone.”
While the company’s app doesn’t indicate “no added sugars” in the drinks’ names, White said customers can look at the ingredients to see that the lattes don’t contain added sugar.
“There is a decent amount of milk because it’s a latte,” she noted. “There is also some whey protein isolate which is how they get the protein total so high.”
White pointed out that while milk contains natural sugars, those aren’t the same as the added sugars found in a Reese’s cup.
“Milk sugar comes along with plenty of other nutritious attributes including calcium, Vitamin D, B-vitamins and protein,” she said. “This food matrix is very different from candy, plus it is digested more slowly thanks to the protein in it.”
The lawsuit is seeking monetary damages for customers who bought the protein beverages.
It also asks the court to order Starbucks to stop labeling the drinks “sugar-free” if they contain sugar.
