Starbucks is going through a shopper lawsuit over claims that the protein drinks labeled “sugar-free” on its cafe menus may very well include extra sugar than a Reese’s peanut butter cup.
The federal lawsuit filed late Friday in Seattle alleges that eight protein beverages Starbucks sells within the U.S. include various quantities of sugar though the corporate lists them as sugarless.
On Monday, the menu on Starbucks’ U.S. web site listed a 16-ounce (0.5-liter) Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha with 16 grams of sugar and a 20-ounce (0.6-liter) model of the identical drink with 21 grams of sugar. By comparability, one Reese’s cup has 11 grams of sugar.
Hagens Berman, a regulation agency that focuses on class motion circumstances, filed the go well with on behalf of three particular person shoppers who purchased Starbucks’ sugar-free protein drinks in California, New York and Washington.
“Customers keep away from sugar for varied causes, whether or not that be normal well being, diabetes and blood glucose ranges or different components, and for a lot of, a staunch mislabeling like that is important,” stated Steve Berman, a co-founder and managing associate of the Seattle-headquartered agency.
The plaintiffs contend that Starbucks’ naming and marketing of sugar-free merchandise is “false, misleading and illegal” and that the corporate violated federal labeling laws.
Seattle-based Starbucks stated the sugar in its protein drinks comes from the protein-boosted milk it makes use of. The corporate stated it doesn’t add sugar to the drinks and it makes use of sugar-free syrup for flavoring.
On Starbucks’ web site Monday, the drinks have been marketed as “sugar-free,” however the firm additionally clearly acknowledged the quantity of sugar in every beverage and that they have been made with out added sugar.
“We consider these claims don’t have any benefit,” a Starbucks spokesperson stated Monday. “Starbucks has constantly and clearly offered details about its protein drinks, sugar-free choices, customization selections and dietary content material throughout product bulletins, menus, advertising and marketing supplies, Starbucks.com and the Starbucks app, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves on this matter.”
Starbucks launched its protein drinks in September 2025 to satisfy shopper demand for purposeful drinks and catch as much as rivals like Dutch Bros, which launched protein-enhanced espresso drinks in 2024.
Dutch Bros additionally affords a lower-sugar model of its caramel-flavored Hopscotch Protein Latte, but it surely’s marketed because the Hopscotch Zero Sugar Added Protein Latte. The 16-ounce (0.5-liter) iced model has 7 grams of sugar and 11 grams of protein. By comparability, a 16-ounce (0.5-liter) iced Starbucks Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte has 9 grams of sugar and 29 grams of protein.
The lawsuit seeks damages on behalf of U.S. shoppers who purchased the drinks. It additionally desires the courtroom to order Starbucks to cease utilizing the label “sugar-free” on merchandise that include sugar.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Enterprise Author
