Starbucks sued over sugar-free protein drink labels

A federal lawsuit filed in Seattle on October 2 alleges that Starbucks misleads customers by calling eight protein drinks “sugar-free” even though the beverages contain sugar. Three consumers from California, New York and Washington are seeking damages and a court order requiring the company to change the challenged naming practice. The complaint says customers could understand the label to mean the finished drinks contain no sugar. It argues that the sugar comes from lactose in the protein-boosted milk used in the recipes, while the drinks are flavored with sugar-free syrups. The plaintiffs allege they would not have bought the beverages, or would have paid less, if they had known their sugar content. Those claims have not been resolved by a court. Nutrition figures cited in reports vary by drink and serving size. Starbucks’ product information lists 16 grams of sugar in a 16-ounce Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha and 21 grams in its 20-ounce version. The complaint also cites 19 grams in a Venti Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte and 13 grams in each of the iced Sugar-Free Vanilla and Caramel Protein Lattes. The amounts are not the same across all eight beverages.