A lawsuit filed against Starbucks alleges that the coffee chain falsely advertised 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 claims that Starbucks attempted to capitalize on the protein trend and customer preferences for nutritional products by misleadingly labeling these drinks as “sugar-free.”
Starbucks has defended its labeling, stating that they have provided clear information about their protein beverages, sugar-free options, and nutritional content. The dispute revolves around whether the drinks should be considered sugar-free despite the presence of naturally occurring sugars in milk.
The lawsuit highlights that U.S. federal law prohibits beverages with more than 0.5 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving from being labeled as “sugar-free.” Similarly, Canadian regulations require products labeled as sugar-free to contain less than 0.5 grams of sugars per reference amount and serving size.
The lawsuit seeks damages for false advertising and violations of consumer protection laws, aiming to have the case certified as a class action lawsuit. Consumers who avoid sugar for health reasons, such as diabetes, may be impacted by misleading labeling of sugar content in products like these Starbucks beverages.
