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A class-action lawsuit has been filed against global coffee chain Starbucks on behalf of three consumers in California, New York and Washington. The complaint alleges that the company’s vanilla- and caramel-flavored hot and iced protein lattes, as well as its protein matcha drinks, contain 13 to 21 grams of sugar per serving despite being marketed as “sugar-free.”
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the plaintiffs say the product names mislead consumers and argue that drinks labeled “sugar-free” should not contain this amount of sugar.
Consumer rights attorney Steve Berman said such allegedly misleading labeling poses serious risks to people with health conditions, particularly those with diabetes or who monitor their blood sugar levels.
Starbucks management has firmly denied the allegations, saying consumers are not being misled. The company said its menus, official website and mobile app provide complete and accurate nutritional information about its products. Starbucks representatives say the sugar in the drinks comes not from added sugar, but from protein-enriched milk containing naturally occurring sugar, and that only sugar-free syrups are used for flavoring.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for consumers across the United States who purchased the drinks, as well as a court order prohibiting the use of the “sugar-free” label on products that contain naturally occurring sugar.
