Starbucks sued over sugar-free protein drinks containing up to 21g of sugar

Starbucks is facing a lawsuit over its “sugar-free” protein drinks, with consumers claiming some contain almost as much sugar as a candy bar.

The proposed class action lawsuit, filed Oct. 2 in federal court in Washington state, targets eight Starbucks hot and iced protein drinks, including its sugar-free vanilla protein latte, sugar-free caramel protein latte and matcha protein drinks.

The drinks contain between 13 and 21 grams of sugar in a venti-sized serving, according to the lawsuit, which claims that “no reasonable consumer” would expect a so-called “sugar-free” drink to contain that amount.

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The lawsuit was filed by three consumers who purchased the drinks in California, New York and Washington. He’s asking the court to stop Starbucks from using “sugar-free” to describe products containing sugar.

Starbucks faces a proposed class action over its “sugar-free” protein drinks. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Starbucks disputes these allegations.

“We believe these claims have no merit,” a Starbucks spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

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“Starbucks has consistently and clearly provided information about its protein drinks, sugar-free options, customization choices and nutritional content in product ads, menus, marketing materials, on Starbucks.com and the Starbucks app, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this matter.”

Starbucks said it uses sugar-free syrups to flavor the protein drinks at the center of the lawsuit. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The company says the sugar in the drinks comes naturally from protein-fortified milk rather than added sugar, and that sugar-free syrups are used for flavoring.

Nicolette Pace, a New York-based dietitian and certified diabetes educator, noted that lactose found in milk is a natural sugar and is not considered an added sugar, but that “sugar-free” and “no added sugar” are not the same.

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“Sugar-free” doesn’t necessarily mean a product contains no sugar, added Dr. Michael Aziz, an internist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Under FDA regulations, products labeled “sugar-free” must generally contain less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving.

The lawsuit alleges that some Starbucks drinks marketed as “sugar-free” contain between 13 and 21 grams of sugar. (iStock)

“No added sugar” means that sugars or sugar-containing ingredients have not been added during processing or preparation, although a product may still contain natural sugar, as Starbucks says in its protein drinks. Natural sugars can still affect blood sugar levels, making total carbohydrate content important to consider for people with diabetes.

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The plaintiffs argue that they paid more for products advertised as sugar-free than for comparable alternatives, said Danny Karon, an Ohio-based class-action attorney who is not involved in the case.

“Size matters when it comes to these things at Starbucks.”

“The challenge will be convincing the court – and then the jury – that consumers relied on Starbucks’ alleged misrepresentations when making their purchases,” Karon told Fox News Digital.

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Beyond the protein drinks cited in the lawsuit, Aziz and Pace cautioned that other Starbucks specialty drinks may contain significant amounts of sugar, emphasizing the importance of considering nutritional information, serving sizes and add-ins such as whipped cream and drizzles.

Nutrition experts have noted that “sugar-free” and “no added sugar” do not mean the same thing. (iStock)

A Venti Java Chip Frappuccino can contain almost 80 grams of sugar, or about 20 teaspoons, they said. They also highlighted the Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino and seasonal drinks such as the Peppermint Mocha and Pumpkin Spice Latte, which, depending on size and customization, can contain almost as much sugar.

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“That’s huge amounts of sugar when you consider that one soda has 63 grams of sugar,” Aziz said, referring to standard 20-ounce bottles of popular regular sodas.

“Size matters when it comes to these things at Starbucks,” Pace said. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar to about 6 teaspoons, or 25 grams, per day for most women and 9 teaspoons, or 36 grams, for men, she noted.

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She stressed, however, that these recommendations apply to added sugars and not to lactose naturally present in milk.

Nutrition experts have noted that “sugar-free” and “no added sugar” do not mean the same thing. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

For consumers wishing to reduce their consumption, she suggests simplifying the order and choosing a smaller size.

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Aziz recommends: “If you want to treat yourself, maybe just have a simple latte or cappuccino. »