Consumers sue Starbucks over ‘sugar-free’ drinks containing up to 21g of sugar
NBC News · LC · trust 50/100
The products in question include hot and iced protein lattes and protein matcha beverages in vanilla and caramel flavors. According to the federal lawsuit filed Friday, these drinks contain 13 to 21 grams of sugar per serving.
“No reasonable person” would expect something labeled “sugar-free” to contain that much sugar, the lawsuit contends.
“This case is about false and misleading product names. It is not about missing nutritional information,” according to the lawsuit.
Starbucks denied misleading consumers with its menu in a statement to NBC News on Tuesday. The international coffee chain said it 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.”
Hagens Berman filed the suit on behalf of three individual consumers who bought Starbucks’ sugar-free protein drinks in California, New York and Washington, The Associated Press reported .
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On Starbucks’ website Monday, the drinks were marketed as “sugar-free,” but the company also stated the amount of sugar in each beverage and that they were made without added sugar .
The lawsuit seeks damages on behalf of U.S. consumers who bought the drinks. It also wants the court to order Starbucks to stop using the label “sugar-free” on products that contain sugar.
Share Add NBC News to Google Alicia Victoria Lozano Alicia Victoria Lozano is a California-based reporter for NBC News focusing on climate change, wildfires and the changing politics of drug laws.
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