Starbucks sued over 'sugar-free' claims for protein beverages

By Jonathan Stempel

Oct 5 (Reuters) - Starbucks ‌has been ​sued by ​consumers who said the coffee chain falsely advertised eight protein beverages as "sugar-free" because they contain lactose, a naturally occurring sugar in ‌milk.

According to a proposed class action filed on Friday, reasonable ⁠consumers would not expect the beverages to contain 13 to 21 grams of sugar per ‌20- or 24-ounce "venti" serving.

Federal law ‌prohibits Starbucks from using "sugar-free" to describe beverages containing more than 0.5 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving, the complaint said.

Consumers accused Starbucks of trying ​to capitalize on the desire of 75% of Americans to reduce or eliminate sugar consumption. They also said Starbucks failed to provide federally required ⁠disclaimers that the protein beverages are not low-calorie food or meant for weight control.

A Starbucks spokesperson said ​in an email that the claims have no merit.

"Starbucks 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," the spokesperson said.

A ⁠lawyer for the consumers did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment. The complaint in Seattle federal court seeks unspecified damages for false advertising and violations of ⁠various state consumer protection laws.

Food producers are regularly sued for alleged false advertising, including in ​dozens of recent cases challenging "sugar-free" or "zero sugar" claims for products containing a sugar substitute known as allulose.

The eight Starbucks beverages are Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte, Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte, ‌Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha, Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha, and equivalent versions containing ice.

Starbucks' website says the beverages are "protein-packed" with "no added ‌sugar," and venti servings contain between 270 and 340 calories. The website also shows ⁠that the beverages contain sugars. ‌Starbucks launched the beverages in ​September 2025 as part of its "Back to Starbucks" updated menu.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot and ‌Nick Zieminski)

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• Ukraine will halt strikes on refineries if Russia stops energy attacks, Zelenskiy says
• Canadian ransomware negotiator arrested amid FBI hacker crackdown
• Yemen's Houthis renew warning to airlines, travellers against using Saudi airports