A lawsuit accuses Starbucks of mislabeling protein drinks

A class-action complaint filed in a US federal court alleges that Starbucks inaccurately labelled eight protein drinks as free of sweeteners. According to the filing, the beverages contain between 13 and 21 grams of simple carbohydrates per serving. Hagens Berman, the law firm pursuing the case, says the marketing breaches consumer-protection rules.

The plaintiffs are asking for compensation for affected buyers and a court order requiring Starbucks to stop using the descriptor on any product with sugars detectable through laboratory testing. The complaint alleges that the wording gives consumers an inaccurate impression of the drinks’ nutritional content.

The products named in the case are part of Starbucks’s cold-coffee and fortified-latte range. The filing cites a 16-ounce iced caramel version that contains 29 grams of protein and 9 grams of sugars, which it attributes to syrups, flavourings and concentrated dairy bases.

The formulations described in the complaint include whey-protein concentrates, low-fat bases and sweetening additives. The filing also refers to the combination of naturally occurring lactose in liquid dairy ingredients and concentrated flavour extracts when describing the drinks’ carbohydrate and calorie content.

The lawsuit comes as Starbucks has expanded protein-focused coffees and lattes marketed toward consumers seeking higher-protein drinks. The complaint says the products were positioned as compatible with low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets, while arguing that consumers following strict nutritional or metabolic regimens rely on accurate nutritional information.

The case was reported by Quartz. The source material did not include a response from Starbucks or a ruling by the court.